Fraudulent company on Alibaba, any experience?

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ian-d

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Mar 7, 2011
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  • #1
    Just found out a few weeks ago that a company on Alibaba (the Chinese distribution website) are using my company details to try and sell bulk items, presumably as part of a scam.

    Anyone else experienced similar? As I don't deal on those markets, and don't have an account with them, I've found it difficult to resolve this, and I'm currently in the process of proving I'm the owner of the company and awaiting a decision from them.

    Alibaba have even put this company down as verified quite simply because they have checked the details against companies house; a public access website!!!

    What is made worse is that I'm based in the UK and have just had two guys from a company in Indonesia travel all the way over to buy some stock, only for me to tell them that they've been scammed (albeit they haven't handed over any money, but have travelled across the world!).

    This hasn't been a nice experience.
     
    kipper57

    kipper57

    Free Member
    Jan 22, 2013
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  • #2
    Takes me back a few years Ian, I did some importing from China Mp3s etc and visited that site a few times. Certainly is full of rogues, not sure how you would get around it.

    Possibly sign up then post a negative comment as feed back? It is a bit strange they would give these people your physical address. Hope they got something out of their traveling holiday even if it is a lesson learnt
     
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    ian-d

    Free Member
    Mar 7, 2011
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  • #3
    I feel sorry for the two lads that came over, as they clearly were shocked and I guess were chasing the "too good to believe" deal. The younger lad was shivering like made, not use to our weather; offered them a drink but they wanted to keep the taxi. At the same time though, can't feel that sorry for them if they travelled across the word based on a registered address and nothing else; I suspect diligence would have found it to be fraud.

    I had to register to contact Alibaba, but might as you say post a comment about the company being fraudulent, but suspect that whilst Alibaba are investigating, they'll simply remove the comment.
     
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    kipper57

    kipper57

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    Jan 22, 2013
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  • #4
    From memory you should be able to post and make a rank, it has been a long time since being there. There were so many other sites to find suppliers and that was the worst of them all. Yes I can understand that; as those guys not only wasted valuable time but also money to get there etc.

    Diligence can be hard from overseas, I remember when I went to China although had chatted and done the research I could, I was a bit worried. Overall had a good time though and found the suppliers I was after
     
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    beasty

  • #7
    I wish Alibaba would be sorted out, such a hornets nest of scammers and people stealing info and no delivering, it has the potential to be the greatest business resource on the planet.

    I have use it from time to time but I always expect the worst!
     
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    MOIC

    MOIC

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    • Nov 16, 2011
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    myofficeinchina.com
  • #9
    I'm amazed at the amount of people that will send money to a company without first checking and verifying the company and the bank details they are sending the money to, both should tally.

    I am in the process of trying to retrieve funds on behalf of customers who have transferred money to bank accounts and have not heard anything more.

    Unfortunately, its a growing trend in China, as most victims do not follow through to try to get their money back. As long as this happens, the trend will continue to grow.
     
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    Alibaba_UK

  • #10
    This is Molly from Alibaba's UK office. I am really sorry to hear about the trouble you have had on our site and I want to help. This type of fraudulent behaviour is not tolerated and we also want to avoid this happening to anyone else. Could you send me a direct message via this forum with your contact details and we can discuss this case? Many thanks and I look forward to speaking with you soon.
     
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    ian-d

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    Mar 7, 2011
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  • #11
    Alibaba_UK said:
    This is Molly from Alibaba's UK office. I am really sorry to hear about the trouble you have had on our site and I want to help. This type of fraudulent behaviour is not tolerated and we also want to avoid this happening to anyone else. Could you send me a direct message via this forum with your contact details and we can discuss this case? Many thanks and I look forward to speaking with you soon.
    Click to expand...

    Hi Molly, this thankfully is now resolved thanks to the team in China who have checked all the information provided and agreed that they were fraudsters and have blocked the account/shop and have blacklisted it in case they try using the details again in the future. Hopefully that is the end of it, and whilst Alibaba have been helpful, I still feel the security measures in place are sadly lacking; especially claiming a verified member just because someone checked companies house!!!
     
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