How can I be sure that the person contacting me is genuine?

Always confirm if the address, phone number and email address given to you by your trading partner belongs to the same company.

If a trader provides inconsistent contact details, for example an address in the USA and phone number from another country, we recommend you look up the address in the local phone directory and obtain the local phone number, and call this number to confirm that the person you are in touch with actually works for the company.

Similarly, if a partner's email heading states that they work for a certain company, you should verify this.

Be aware that some scammers could alter their return email address heading to make it look like they work for a company that they don't.

The most secure method is hiring a business verification company to check the credits for that company you are dealing with. Got the detailed business report is much helpful to your business.

How can I make sure the products are of the quality and condition as the description in the advert?

As a buyer, order a sample before committing to a purchase order to be sure that the product meets your expectations. Also document those product specifications as part of agreement.

Of course you should pay for the sample but it is worth to do that.

The seller is asking for advance payment, how can I be sure he will ship my goods?

If you are a buyer, sometimes a supplier may ask you for a deposit (usually 30%) before he accepts the order. While this is not unusual between long-standing trading partners, if you are doing business with the supplier for the first time, make sure you have done sufficient background checks on the supplier before you agree to the deposit

Ask for a different form of payment, such as a letter of credit, or escrow payment. Don’t wire the money at one occasion.

If the seller seems more focused on payment than any other issue, or indicates that cash payment must be made urgently, more caution should be given to the transaction.

Be extra cautious when the seller asks you to send money to an account whose real owner cannot be traced; for example, you cannot trace the real name of the person behind an account with a wiring service such as Western Union or money gram.