0:00Across every platform, the same handful of habits stops most fraud.
0:05Six of them.
0:07First, verify before you pay.
0:09Check business registration where the platform shows it,
0:12and read real transaction history rather than just a star rating.
0:18For bigger orders, ask for a live video call or a paid third-party inspection.
0:24Second,
0:24keep your money inside the platform's own payment and protection system for as long
0:29as possible.
0:31A request to pay outside, by private wire,
0:34personal payment app or a link sent in chat,
0:37is the most common precursor to a scam.
0:41Third, always order and check a sample before a bulk order,
0:45however good the photos look.
0:48Fourth, treat urgency as a red flag.
0:51Pay now or lose this price is a manipulation tactic,
0:55and a genuine business relationship can survive you taking a day to verify.
1:01Fifth,
1:01match the bank account or payee name exactly to the registered company name on
1:07the seller's profile.
1:09A request to pay a colleague's personal account is a serious warning sign.
1:14Sixth, keep a paper trail:
1:16screenshots of listings,
1:18saved chats, order confirmations, receipts and tracking,
1:23so you have evidence ready if you need a dispute.
1:27One scam targets African buyers in particular.
1:30A fake clearing agent in China claims your goods are stuck,
1:34and demands a further payment to release them.
1:38Legitimate customs and clearance fees in Cameroon are paid to your own local
1:42broker,
1:44in Cameroon,
1:45not to an unknown party abroad.
1:49Verify first, protect the payment, and keep the proof.