Adam · 2026-10-23 · liapps360

How to verify a Chinese supplier before paying a deposit

Verify the legal entity before sending a deposit: match the supplier name and USCC to the business licence, inspect ownership and key personnel, search for related companies, compare contact details, and confirm that the bank account belongs to the contracting entity.

Start with the legal entity, not the marketplace name

An Alibaba storefront, brand or English trading name is not necessarily the legal name. Ask for a business-licence photo or the 18-character Unified Social Credit Code.

• Match the Chinese name, USCC, registered address and legal representative.
• Check whether the entity is active, revoked or deregistered.
• Confirm that the quotation and contract use the same entity.

Compare the supplier with the rest of the shortlist

A supplier can look independent when viewed alone but share an owner, address or contact with another bidder.

• Compare legal representatives and shareholders.
• Trace ownership by one to three layers.
• Flag shared directors, addresses, phones and emails for review.

Use payment details as a separate check

A registry check does not prove that an invoice or bank instruction is legitimate. Confirm the beneficiary account name, contract party and payment destination through an independent channel.

Frequently asked questions

Is a USCC enough to identify a supplier?

It is the cleanest identifier when the code is valid and matches the licence. Still confirm the current legal name and entity status.

Does an English supplier name work?

It can help find candidates, but the buyer should confirm the matching Chinese entity before relying on a report.

Sources: China's National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (public guidance only) · Supplier business licence and contract documents

Results are due-diligence leads, not findings of wrongdoing. Name-based matches are marked for manual verification and should be checked against source records.