Avoid 5 Common Scams for New Sellers on Alibaba

Online export through international B2B e-commerce platforms is the strategic direction of many Vietnamese businesses. Among them, Alibaba e-commerce platform is the top name chosen thanks to its ability to connect domestic businesses with millions of buyers globally.

However, for businesses that have just entered the market, the process of registering an Alibaba account and initial operations can pose many potential risks. In fact, information about "Alibaba platform is a scam" appears a lot on import-export forums. However, most of these cases stem from crooks taking advantage of the lightness and inexperience of new businesses, or from partners impersonating the brand.

To help you proactively protect your assets and operations, below is a detailed analysis of the 5 most common scam traps for new sellers on Alibaba with effective prevention solutions.

1. Fraud Trap Impersonating an Alibaba Employee or Authorized Agent

This is the most sophisticated tactic that makes many businesses confused right from the step of preparing to open a booth on the floor.

Form of fraud

Thieves often create websites, Zalo, Telegram accounts or emails pretending to be Alibaba Vietnam employees. They approach you with offers to participate in support packages with "deep discounts", "order coverage", or a commitment to "issue orders within the first month". After you transfer money to pay the cost of opening an Alibaba store for them, the scammer will disappear or just hand you a free account (Free Member) with absolutely no international sales features.

Fraud trap impersonating Alibaba employees

2. Account Hijacking Trap by Email Phishing (Fake Email)

Form of fraud

The seller receives an email with the same interface, logo, and colors as the notification from Alibaba. The content is often urging, such as:

• "Your account violates policy, click here to verify within 24 hours or it will be locked."

• "You have an urgent quote message from a VIP customer, click the link to view."

When you click on the link, you will be taken to a fake website with an Alibaba account registration or login interface. As soon as you enter your ID and password, the crooks will take over your account, change your payment information and contact your customers to scam you again.

Trap to take over accounts with phishing emails

3. Trap Customers into Fake Orders to Force Payment of Inspection Fees/Legal Fees

Starting an export business through Alibaba, new sellers are often very excited when they receive the first inquiry message. Fraudsters take advantage of this psychology to set traps.

Form of fraud

A buyer claiming to be a representative of a large company or government agency from abroad submits an extremely large quantity order at a very good price. They quickly agree to all the terms of your quote without much negotiation.

However, when it comes to closing the contract, they require your item to have a "Quality Certificate" or "Special Import License" from an inspection organization designated by them. They require you to pay an upfront fee (usually between $500 and $2,000) to this third party to complete the process. After you transfer the fee, both the buyer and the inspector disappear.

Identification signs

• Buyers close orders too quickly, not paying attention to samples or product specifications.

• Request to make strange certificates, not common in the international import-export industry.

• It is mandatory that you use the service/inspection unit designated by them and request payment via Western Union, MoneyGram or personal e-wallet.

How to avoid

• Be wary of orders that are "too perfect" or of unusual size compared to current capacity.

• Only work with globally reputable independent testing units such as SGS, TÜV Rheinland, Bureau Veritas...

• Do not pay any additional fees to the buyer before the contract is secured.

4. Bank Slip & Payment Method Fraud Trap

Payment method is a key step in exporting. This is also where many risks arise if businesses do not clearly understand the operating procedures on the floor.

Form of fraud

The buyer agrees to place an order and request payment via bank transfer (T/T). Then, they send you an image of a very professional-looking Bank Slip and tell you that the money has gone out, asking you to deliver it urgently for schedule reasons.

Another variation is that the buyer intentionally transfers excess money, then announces a mistake and asks you to transfer the excess money back to another account. A few days later, the bank announced that the original transaction was a fraudulent transaction/using a stolen card, the original amount was recovered, and the amount you "refunded" was lost.

Identification signs

• Urgent delivery as soon as you send a photo of the payment receipt but the money has not yet been credited to your account.

• Recommend payment outside Alibaba's security system.

• The authorization only shows signs of editing and inconsistent fonts.

How to avoid

• Only deliver when the money is in the bank account (in the form of direct T/T) or when the order status on the floor changes to confirmed secure payment.

• Use Alibaba's Trade Assurance service to ensure funds are kept safe by a third party until contract terms are fulfilled.

5. Fraud Trap of "Cheap" Stores & Advice on Opening Unreputable Stores

Cost is one of the factors that new sellers are most concerned about. Taking advantage of this, many impostor units launch service packages that confuse market information.

Form of fraud

Many individuals/organizations offer consulting services to open booths at cheap prices that are only 1/2 or 1/3 of the official listed price of the floor. They advertise that they have "internal placements" or "hidden sponsorship programs".

In fact, they can:

• Open a store for you that does not meet Gold Supplier standards (Gold Supplier Account).

• Using "junk" business information to register, causing your store to be permanently locked after a few weeks due to violation of authentication policy (KYC).

• Collect monthly operating management fees but do not download products, do not optimize SEO, and leave the store alone.

Comparison Table of Standard Stores and Scam/Low Quality Stores

How to avoid

• Find out carefully the costs of opening a standard Alibaba store listed publicly on the system.

• Request to check the Authorized Reseller certificate of the consulting unit opening the booth.

• Don't believe in "internal discounts" tricks of unknown origin.

Safety Checklist for New Sellers on Alibaba

To ensure the export process through Alibaba goes smoothly, always follow the quick checklist below:

• Authenticate working channel:Only exchange registration information with Official Authorized Agents of Alibaba Vietnam.

• Account security:Set a strong password and turn on 2-layer authentication (2FA) as soon as you complete your Alibaba account registration.

• Safe transactions:Prioritize using Trade Assurance service for first orders with new partners.

• Check cash flow:Absolutely do not ship goods when you have only received a photo of the money transfer receipt (Bank Slip).

• Buyer Verification:Check the buyer's history, country, and business email before sending a detailed quote.

• Raise vigilance:All requests to transfer inspection fees and procedure fees to third-party personal accounts should be questioned and re-examined.

Conclusion

Alibaba international B2B e-commerce platform is a great bridge bringing Vietnamese agricultural products, handicrafts and industrial products to the world. Rumors of Alibaba being a scam largely stem from users' lack of vigilance against sophisticated fraud tricks from third parties.

Mastering knowledge, following correct operating procedures and cooperating with reputable consulting units to open an Alibaba store are the keys to helping you optimize the cost of opening an Alibaba store, protect your assets and reap many successes on your journey to reach the big ocean.

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