Home › Insights › How to verify a supplier before sending money • Risk / Verification 5 min

How to verify a supplier before sending money

Before making international payments, confirm the company really exists and validate the transaction documents.

30-second summary

1) Confirm the company

Real and properly registered

Verify legal registration, address and public presence.

2) Review the documents

Proforma and contract

Check consistency across key data, signatures and commercial terms.

3) Verify the payment

Correct beneficiary

The beneficiary must match the company and country.

Common warning signs

Price far below market level and conditions that look too good to be true.
Pressure for immediate payment or an urgent request to change bank details.
Generic emails, inconsistent signatures, or a recently created domain.
Documents with errors, off-brand logos, or conflicting information.

What to verify (minimum recommended)

✓ Company registration: legal name, registration number, address and status.
✓ Presence and commercial history: website, references and market footprint.
✓ Transaction documents: Proforma Invoice, contract and certificates.
✓ Bank account and beneficiary consistent with the company and country.

Recommended step-by-step

1

Request the basic documents

Company registration, proforma invoice, contract and bank details.
2

Validate information consistency

Confirm legal name, email domain, address and commercial footprint.
3

Only then proceed with payment

If critical inconsistencies appear, stop the transaction.

Related reading: International trade fraud: classic red flags and How to Identify Real Buyers in International Trade.

Find verified Brazilian suppliers

Tell us what you need to source. We connect you with verified suppliers and help you reduce risk before you pay.

Find suppliers →

Related articles

International trade fraud: classic red flags

The most common scams and how to protect yourself.

Commercial Intelligence

How to Identify Real Buyers in International Trade

How to distinguish generic contacts from buyers with real business potential.

Letter of Credit in Commodity Trade

How letters of credit and SBLCs secure payment in international commodity trade.