European buyers check Chinese suppliers carefully, and say so. The reverse happens much less often, which is odd: the seller carries the larger risk on a first order, because the goods leave before the money arrives.
Four checks, in the order of what they cost you
| Check | What it tells you | Where |
|---|---|---|
| VAT number | That the number is valid today and matches the name given | VIES, the Commission's own service, free |
| Company register | Incorporation date, registered address, directors, and whether accounts have been filed | Each country keeps its own, and most are searchable online |
| The website and the domain | How long the company has been visible, and whether the address on the site matches the register | Public, and takes two minutes |
| Credit report | Payment behaviour and financial standing — the only one that costs money, and the only one that predicts being paid | A credit agency, per report or per subscription |
The VAT number is the fastest signal
Every business in the European Union that trades across borders has one, and the Commission runs a free service that says whether a given number is valid. A number that does not validate is not proof of fraud — it can be newly issued, or not enabled for intra-EU trade — but it is a reason to ask a question before loading a container.
Signals that deserve a second look
- A large first order from a company incorporated very recently.
- An address that is a mailbox service, when the company describes warehouses.
- A delivery address in a different country from the invoicing company, with no explanation.
- Urgency on the shipping date and flexibility on everything else.
- A free email address for a company that has a domain.
None of these is proof of anything on its own. Two or three together, on a first order, are worth a phone call — and a legitimate buyer will not be offended by one.
Where to read it yourself
Official pages, opened and checked on 15 October 2026. Where a rule changes, these are the addresses that change with it — this article does not.