| A fraudulent exporter can obtain your money by | | | | papers which are supposed to be sent to the bank. |
| using fake shipping documents. | | | | Check them carefully. Most of the shipping lines have |
| A common L/C scam: a fraudulent seller sends fake | | | | online tracking system, where by entering the container |
| shipping documents to the opening or advising bank to | | | | number you can see when the cargo actually left the |
| prove that the goods were shipped. In fact, the goods | | | | port and to which destination. If all looks acceptable, |
| never left the sellers warehouse or, more likely, never | | | | ask the seller to issue the originals and send copies to |
| existed at all. Other documents like the invoice, packing | | | | you by fax or e-mail. By B/L number you can always |
| list, export declaration, even Certificate of Origin can be | | | | trace any shipment. |
| easily produced by the scammer. In many L/Cs the | | | | It is a good idea to ask your bank (opening bank) to |
| only documents needed for the L/C to be paid are the | | | | send you the copies of the documents received. You |
| invoice and shipping documents. If the seller’s bank | | | | can check them before the bank pays the seller. |
| believes that the papers are authentic and pays the | | | | You can include other papers to be presented to the |
| scammer, the buyer will never see the goods and will | | | | issuing bank: inspection reports issued by an |
| spend much time in discussions with his bank. | | | | independent inspection company, all kind of documents |
| How to protect yourself? | | | | issued by the official organisations of the exporting |
| Always ask the seller to fax you the drafts of all the | | | | country etc. |