Verify Suppliers Across
30 Countries Before You Pay

Start with the official SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation) registry at gsxt.gov.cn to confirm the company exists, is active, and matches the business name you were given. Cross-check the registered address against the factory address — discrepancies are a major red flag. Check whether the entity is classified as a manufacturing company or a trading company (贸易公司). Use a service like KeyBS Supplier Verification to run this cross-reference automatically and receive a risk-scored report in under 60 seconds.

Request the Business Licence (营业执照) — this is the single most important document. It should show the company name in Chinese, registered capital, legal representative, and business scope. For manufacturing orders, also request: export licence (出口经营资格证), relevant product certifications (CE, GB, CCC depending on the product), factory audit report (SGS, BV or equivalent), and the VAT invoice (增值税发票) after payment.

A manufacturer (生产企业) owns its production facility and has a manufacturing business scope on its Business Licence. A trading company (贸易公司) sources goods from multiple factories and resells — it cannot produce. Many Canton Fair exhibitors present themselves as manufacturers but are actually trading companies. The difference affects price negotiation, quality control, lead times, and liability. KeyBS Supplier Verification classifies entities automatically and flags discrepancies between claimed and registered status.

For Canton Fair contacts, request the Business Licence on the spot and photograph the exhibition badge and booth number. On Alibaba, "Verified Supplier" and "Gold Supplier" badges confirm Alibaba's own vetting, but they do not replace independent due diligence. Run the company name through SAMR registry and check the PBOC credit blacklist (失信被执行人名单) — companies on this list have outstanding court judgments and are prohibited from high-value commercial activity.

The most documented fraud patterns: (1) Lookalike company names — a fraudster registers a company nearly identical to a legitimate manufacturer; (2) Factory address fraud — showing buyers a legitimate factory they don't own or operate; (3) Deposit disappearance — collecting 30–50% advance payment then going silent; (4) Bait-and-switch — delivering samples that meet spec, then shipping an inferior production batch; (5) Certificate forgery — fake CE marks, ISO certificates, and SGS test reports are common in electronics and pharma.

SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation, 国家市场监督管理总局) is the official Chinese government agency responsible for business registration. Every legally operating Chinese company must be registered with SAMR and its provincial/local counterparts. The National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn) is the public portal. A company not found in the SAMR registry does not legally exist. KeyBS Supplier Verification queries SAMR and related databases automatically.

The primary check is the MCA21 portal (mca.gov.in), which is India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs registry. Search by company name or CIN (Corporate Identity Number) to confirm the company is registered, active, and not struck off. Cross-check the IEC (Importer Exporter Code) on the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) — any legitimate Indian exporter must hold a valid IEC. Also verify the GSTIN on the GST portal (gst.gov.in) to confirm tax registration and filing compliance.

The IEC is a 10-digit code issued by the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) that every Indian importer and exporter must hold. Without a valid IEC, no Indian company can legally export goods. You can verify any IEC for free on the DGFT portal. A supplier who cannot provide their IEC, or whose IEC does not match their company details, is either operating illegally or misrepresenting themselves. KeyBS Supplier Verification checks IEC validity automatically.

Go to gst.gov.in and search by GSTIN (15-character GST Identification Number). A legitimate GST-registered supplier should show an active status, matching legal business name, and regular filing history. Suppliers who request payment without providing a GSTIN, or whose GSTIN returns no results, are likely operating outside the formal economy — which is a significant fraud and liability risk.

The most documented patterns: (1) Ghost exporters — companies with a valid IEC but no actual production or warehouse; (2) Quality misrepresentation — pharmaceutical grade claims on non-compliant products; (3) GST invoice fraud — inflated invoices for tax refund schemes; (4) Subcontracting without disclosure — your order is passed to an unlicensed factory; (5) Country-of-origin abuse — Chinese goods relabelled as Indian to avoid tariffs or import bans.

MCA21 is India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs company registry — the equivalent of Companies House in the UK. All incorporated companies (Pvt Ltd, Ltd, LLP) are registered here. The portal shows company incorporation date, registered address, director details, annual filing status, and whether the company has been struck off or is under insolvency. Sole traders and partnership firms are not on MCA21 — for these, verify via GST registration and trade references.

Start by identifying whether the company is a mainland entity or a free zone entity. Mainland UAE companies are licensed by the relevant Emirate's Department of Economic Development (DED). Dubai companies can be verified at dubaided.gov.ae. For free zone companies, verify directly with the relevant free zone authority — DMCC (dmcc.ae), JAFZA, DIFC (difc.ae), or others. Always cross-check the trade licence against the company's bank account and business address.

Mainland companies are licensed by the DED, can trade anywhere in the UAE and internationally, and must have a UAE national shareholder (51%) in most cases. Free zone companies are registered in designated economic zones (DMCC, JAFZA, DIFC etc.), 100% foreign owned, but can only trade outside the UAE or within their own free zone. Offshore companies (registered in RAK, JAFZA Offshore etc.) cannot conduct business in the UAE and are primarily used for holding assets. For trading purposes, you should be dealing with a mainland or active free zone entity.

Key risk patterns: (1) Shell free zone companies — used as front entities for sanctioned persons or goods; (2) VAT registration fraud — fake TRN (Tax Registration Number) on invoices; (3) Re-export misrepresentation — goods from sanctioned origins (Iran, North Korea etc.) re-routed via Dubai with UAE certificates of origin; (4) Trade finance fraud — fake LCs and forged shipping documents; (5) "Dubai office" claims — companies operating from a virtual office or PO box with no real operations.

DMCC is the world's largest free zone and a major hub for commodity trading (gold, diamonds, tea, coffee, energy). To verify a DMCC company, visit dmcc.ae and use the company search tool. A valid DMCC member company will have an active DMCC membership certificate and trade licence. Also check the company's UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) disclosure, which UAE companies are required to file. KeyBS Supplier Verification checks DMCC registry and DIFC registry automatically.

Since January 2018, UAE companies with annual turnover above AED 375,000 must register for VAT and obtain a TRN. You can verify any TRN on the Federal Tax Authority portal (tax.gov.ae). A supplier requesting payment via invoice without a valid TRN — or whose TRN cannot be verified — is either below the VAT threshold (legitimate but small) or potentially fraudulent. Always match the TRN to the exact legal company name on the trade licence.

The primary registry is the National Business Registration Portal (dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn), managed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). Search by business registration number (ma so thue, which is also the tax code) or company name. Confirm the company is active, has a matching registered address, and holds a valid enterprise registration certificate (Giay chung nhan dang ky doanh nghiep). For exporters, verify the export licence status with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT).

Since the US-China trade war and associated tariffs (2018–present), there has been a significant increase in Chinese goods being shipped to Vietnam, minimally processed, and re-exported with Vietnamese certificates of origin to avoid US, EU, and other tariffs. Signs of COO fraud: a very new company with high export volumes, product categories that do not match Vietnam's established manufacturing strengths, Chinese labelling or markings on supposedly Vietnamese goods, and lack of verifiable factory premises. KeyBS flags companies with short operational histories relative to claimed export volumes.

Request the Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC), tax identification certificate, export licence (for regulated products), and a Certificate of Origin (CO Form B for GSP, CO Form AK for ASEAN countries). For garments and footwear, also request cut-make-trim (CMT) certifications and factory audit reports. The MPI portal allows you to cross-reference the ERC number against the national registry to confirm authenticity.

The main risks: (1) Country-of-origin mislabelling — Chinese goods re-routed through Vietnam; (2) Ghost exporters — companies registered but with no real factory; (3) Advance payment fraud — targeting new importers unfamiliar with the market; (4) Quality substitution — approved sample replaced by inferior goods on shipment; (5) Unlicensed factories for regulated sectors (pharmaceuticals, food, electrical goods). A pre-shipment inspection from an independent agency (SGS, Bureau Veritas) is strongly recommended for first orders.

The official registry is the Central Registry Record System (MERSIS) and the Trade Registry Gazette (Turkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi). Search at mersis.gtb.gov.tr or ticaretsicil.gov.tr. Confirm the company name (Ticaret Unvani), trade registration number, registered address, and business type (A.S. for joint stock, Ltd. Sti. for limited). Cross-check the Tax ID (VKN/Vergi Kimlik Numarasi) through the Revenue Administration (GIB) portal at gib.gov.tr.

The Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi is Turkey's official commercial gazette where all registered companies must publish incorporation notices, capital changes, and other material events. It is the primary public record of a company's legal existence and any changes to its structure. You can search by company name, trade registration number, or city at ticaretsicil.gov.tr. A Turkish company not found in this registry is not legally registered.

The main risks: (1) Unregistered or informal businesses — Turkey has a significant informal sector, particularly in textiles and garments; (2) Tax ID mismatches — invoices showing a VKN that does not match the company name; (3) Fake quality certificates — particularly ISO 9001, CE marks for industrial goods; (4) EU certificate of origin abuse — misrepresenting country of manufacture on EUR.1 movement certificates to gain EU tariff preferences; (5) Advance payment fraud targeting new importers with unrealistically low prices.

Turkey has been in a customs union with the EU since 1996, meaning Turkish goods can enter the EU without customs duties for most industrial products. This makes Turkish certificates of origin (EUR.1 / EUR-MED) highly valuable — and therefore subject to fraud. When sourcing goods intended for EU re-export or distribution, verify that the supplier's production facilities are genuinely in Turkey and that the goods meet EU rules of origin requirements. KeyBS Supplier Verification cross-references the trade registry to confirm manufacturing location.

Core documents: Trade Registration Certificate (Ticari Sicil Belgesi), Tax Plate (Vergi Levhasi), Chamber of Commerce membership certificate, and Certificate of Activity (Faaliyet Belgesi) confirming current trading status. For exports: EUR.1 movement certificate (for EU-bound shipments), Certificate of Origin from the Turkish Exporters Assembly, product-specific quality certificates (ISO, CE, TSE). For textile orders, also request a factory audit report from an independent inspection company.