Why verification matters
Every year, importers lose significant sums to fraudulent or incapable suppliers. The good news: most of these losses are preventable with a disciplined verification process.
1. Confirm the business license
Start with the official business license. Verify the registered company name, scope of business, and registered capital. A trading company posing as a factory is the single most common red flag.
2. Request a factory audit
A remote video call is not enough. An on-site audit confirms the factory physically exists, has the machinery it claims, and can meet your volume.
3. Use milestone payments
Never pay 100% upfront. Structure payments around deposit, production milestones, and pre-shipment inspection.
4. Inspect before shipment
An AQL-based pre-shipment inspection catches defects while you still have leverage.
The bottom line
Verification is cheap insurance. At Unicorn Valley Group, every factory we recommend passes this framework before you ever send a payment.