Wholesale Supplier Scams in Nigeria: How to Avoid Them

You found a supplier on social media, a messaging group or a website, and you are weighing it against the stories of wholesale supplier scams in Nigeria that every importer has heard. The price is much lower than anyone else's, the photos look professional, and the person writing to you is friendly, quick to reply and ready to send "proof". You send a deposit to secure the stock. Then the replies slow down, a new "fee" appears, and eventually the account goes quiet.

Stories like this are common among small importers and resellers in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and everywhere else that people buy goods remotely. The pattern is not unique to Nigeria. But the cost falls hard on small businesses that cannot afford to lose a whole season's capital. The scams take many forms, from fake companies to real ones that deliver the wrong goods, and the defence is mostly a matter of routine.

This guide is a checklist you can use before you pay anyone. It covers the common tricks, the red flags, how to verify a supplier, how to structure a payment, what to do with samples and what to do if something goes wrong. It is useful whether you use a marketplace, a trade fair or a personal contact.

Common wholesale supplier scams and how they work

Knowing the patterns makes them easier to see.

The fake company. A website, social profile and catalogue are built from stolen photos. There is no factory or warehouse. The "supplier" collects deposits and disappears.

The advance-fee trick. After you pay for goods, the supplier asks for extra money: "customs", "insurance", "release fee" or "clearing charge" paid to a personal account. Each payment is followed by another request.

Bait and switch. The sample is excellent. The bulk shipment is a cheaper product, wrong sizes, older stock or a lower grade. This can come from dishonest suppliers or from careless ones, and the effect on you is the same.

The middleman posing as a factory. A trader presents himself as the manufacturer, adds a margin and cannot control quality or lead times. Not always dishonest, but you should know who you are dealing with.

Fake escrow or payment links. You are sent to a lookalike site that "holds" your money. The site belongs to the scammer. Never use an escrow or payment link that the seller supplies and that you cannot verify independently.

Fake shipping and tracking. The goods are "in transit", with a tracking number that does not exist or a document that has been edited.

Impersonation. Someone copies the name of a real, well-known supplier but uses a different email address or bank account. Always confirm bank details through a channel you trust, especially if they change midway.

Red flags that should slow you down

None of these proves fraud alone, but several together are a reason to stop.

The price is far below every other quote for the same specification.
You are pushed to pay quickly because "stock is almost gone" or a "discount ends today".
The supplier will only accept payment to a personal account, a wallet or cryptocurrency.
They refuse a video call, or the video shows a different person or place each time.
The company address cannot be found, or the same photos appear under different company names.
They avoid questions about registration, MOQ, lead time or warranty, and answer with more promises.
They send documents with spelling errors, mismatched names or inconsistent dates.
Free samples are offered, but only if you pay "courier fees" to a personal account.
They contact you first, offering an exclusive deal.
Their communication moves quickly from the platform to private messaging apps.

A genuine supplier usually accepts questions, does not mind verification and has a business account with a name matching the company.

Verify the supplier before you pay

Verification takes an hour and can save the whole order. Work through these steps.

Check the company exists. Ask for the registered company name and registration number. If the supplier is Nigerian, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) maintains the company register, and you can check the name and number. For suppliers abroad, ask for a business licence and look for an official registry in that country.
Match names. The company name on the contract, invoice and bank account should be the same.
Check the address. Search it on a map. Does it look like a factory or warehouse, or a residential block or empty plot? Ask for a live video of the premises showing the stock, with a handwritten note carrying today's date and your name.
Reverse-search images. Product and factory photos that appear under other companies' names are a warning.
Look at the website and domain. A brand-new domain with a copied catalogue and no named people is suspicious. Check whether the email address uses a company domain or a free mailbox.
Ask for references. Previous buyers you can contact, or trade documents from past shipments with sensitive details hidden.
Check certificates with the issuer. A picture of a certificate is not proof. If a certificate matters to your market, confirm it with the body that issued it.
Search for complaints. Search the company name with words such as "scam" or "complaint". Absence of results is not proof of honesty, but a pattern of complaints is useful.
Use a Verified signal if one exists. On Comilmart, manufacturers apply and go through a verification review covering company details, registration and tax numbers, business licence, certificates, logo and sample product photos, and approved companies receive a Verified badge. This is a helpful signal, not a guarantee of any particular order, so keep doing your own checks.

Test them with a sample first

A sample proves the product and shows how the supplier behaves. Watch:

Do they answer questions promptly and consistently?
Does the sample match the listing in materials, size, colour and finish?
Is the packing sensible?
Do they provide a proper invoice and tracking?

Keep the sample. Photograph it. In your purchase agreement, state that bulk goods must match the approved sample. If the supplier changes the specification after you have approved the sample, you have evidence.

Start with a small first order, even if the supplier offers a better price on a larger one. A small order that works builds trust; a large one that fails is a lesson you cannot afford.

Pay in a way that protects you

Payment is where fraud succeeds or fails. The aim is to avoid giving anyone your full money before they have shown they will deliver.

Payment approach	Protection level	Notes
Full payment upfront by bank transfer	Low	Hard to recover if goods do not arrive
Deposit, balance on shipping documents	Medium	Better if the supplier is verified and documents are checked
Protected or escrow-style payment	Higher	Funds held until agreed conditions are met; use only a route you can verify independently
Payment to a personal account or wallet	Very low	Avoid for business purchases

Good habits:

Pay only to a business account in the registered company name.
Confirm bank details by phone or through the platform, especially if they change.
Split payments, and tie the balance to inspection or documents.
Use protected payment through a platform you reach yourself, not through a link sent in a private chat. You can read how protection is described on the Trade Assurance page, and the platform's buyer protection information for current terms, because those terms are not restated here.
Keep every receipt, message, invoice and photo in one folder.

Put the deal in writing

A basic purchase agreement should state:

Names and addresses of both parties.
Product description, specification and approved sample reference.
Quantity, unit price, currency and total.
Trade term (for example FOB or CIF) and named port.
Packing and labelling requirements.
Production and shipping dates.
Inspection rights and what counts as a defect.
Remedies for late, short, damaged or wrong goods.
Payment schedule and method.
How disputes will be handled.

For larger orders, hire an inspector to check quantities, quality and packing before the goods leave. Ask for the shipping documents (commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill) and verify with the carrier that the shipment exists before you release the balance.

Shipping and clearing: where scammers hide

Be cautious when someone you have never met offers to "handle everything" including clearing. Use a clearing agent you have chosen, or check their licence. Be suspicious of any request to pay customs charges to a supplier's personal account or to an unknown individual: official charges are paid through official channels, usually via your licensed agent.

Import rules, fees and document requirements change. Confirm current requirements with a licensed clearing agent or customs broker and the relevant authority before you pay for goods or book a shipment. Ports such as Apapa and Tin Can in Lagos are busy and complex, and an experienced agent is worth the cost.

On Comilmart, landed-cost and shipping tools help you estimate what goods will really cost, and ComilExpress is its logistics service. Estimates that look far lower than every other source deserve the same scepticism as an unusually low product price.

What to do if you think you are being scammed

Stop paying. Do not send "one more fee" to get the earlier money back.
Preserve evidence. Screenshots, receipts, chat logs, bank details, tracking numbers, websites and phone numbers.
Contact your bank at once. Ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled. Speed matters.
Report it. Tell the platform if the supplier was found through one, and report fraud to the appropriate authorities in Nigeria, such as the police or other fraud-reporting channels. Check the current official routes.
Warn others carefully. Share facts, not accusations, so you do not create legal trouble for yourself.
Learn from it. Update your checklist so the same gap cannot be used again.

Recovery is never guaranteed, which is why prevention matters more.

A worked example

A shopkeeper in Kano wants to buy a large quantity of kitchenware. One supplier offers a price much lower than the rest and asks for full payment to a personal account. He says no, and instead asks three suppliers for company details, a video of the warehouse, and a sample.

Two reply with complete answers. The third becomes vague and sends a new "discount" message every day. He drops the third supplier, orders samples from the two others and compares them. He chooses the one whose sample matches the listing, agrees a small first order, writes the terms down, and pays through a protected route with the balance linked to shipping documents. It takes longer than sending money to the cheapest quote, and it is the reason the order arrives.

Your first week

Write your own supplier checklist from this guide.
Choose a clearing agent and ask what documents they will need.
Identify the two products you most want to source and request samples.
Decide your payment rules in advance, such as no personal accounts and no full prepayment on a first order.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether a supplier is genuine? Verify the registered company name and number, match the bank account name, look at the address, ask for a live video of stock, search images and complaints, and order a sample. Platform verification badges are a useful signal, but keep checking.

Is it safe to pay a supplier by bank transfer? It is safer to pay a registered business account than a personal one, and safer still to split payment and use a protected route. Never send the full amount upfront to a supplier you have not verified.

What is an advance-fee scam in importing? It is when a supplier or "agent" asks for repeated extra payments, such as clearance or release fees, after you have paid for goods. Official charges are not normally paid to personal accounts.

Are online marketplaces safer than social media for finding suppliers? They can add useful checks, such as verification reviews, chat records and payment protection pages, but no platform removes all risk. Apply the same checklist wherever you find a supplier.

What should I do if a supplier stops replying after payment? Stop sending money, save all evidence, contact your bank immediately, tell the platform if you used one and report it to the relevant authorities.

Next step

You can reduce risk by sourcing where suppliers are reviewed and where requests and quotations are recorded. Create a free buyer account, browse suppliers by category and see which show a Verified badge, or post a sourcing request so suppliers come to you with written quotations. Read the buyer protection and Trade Assurance pages before you place an order.

Avoiding wholesale supplier scams in Nigeria comes down to a few habits: verify the company, test a sample, put terms in writing and never hand over all your money to someone you cannot hold accountable.