Avoiding Fraud on Alibaba.com: Alibaba Onsite Check

I am not sure who first said this, but someone once said "you can believe me, or you can believe your lying eyes."  I'd go with the eyes, thanks.

Onsite Check Icon

For people who are lacking experience in sourcing materials from other countries, especially China, it can be intimidating.  Alibaba.com has a wealth of information on how to do your homework and avoid fraud in the Safety and Security Center, but they too believe in "laying eyes" on a vendor's premises through their program, Onsite Check.

What is Onsite Check?

Onsite check is a verification program launched by Alibaba.com for Gold Suppliers in mainland China. Simply put, it means that an Alibaba.com representative has visited a supplier's place of business and many important aspects that prove that it is a legitimate business.  They check out the supplier's:

• Business license
• Main product lines/services  (up to five product lines/services)
• Business type (trading company, manufacturer or both)
• Company location
• Head of the department responsible for their company website on Alibaba.com
• Contact information  (e.g. telephone number, address, etc.)
• Certifications   (e.g. product certificates, export/import license, etc.)
• Bank account
• Factory location
• Premise size
• Number of employees
• Certifications of subsidiares, partners, and contractors

I am not in a position to offer advice (nor would I ever) on whom to source from on Alibaba.com, but if it were me, I would be much more inclined to trust a supplier whose business had been validated and verified.