Hiring a Chinese sourcing agent? Check they're real first.
Most "agents" on WhatsApp, Facebook and Fiverr are private individuals, not companies. Before you send a deposit, check the name against China's corporate registry.
Works with Chinese or English names. If the name isn't a registered company, that's your first red flag.
Why agents go wrong — and what we check
Not a real company
A "sourcing agent" with no registered company has nothing to sue and nothing to lose. We confirm the name maps to a real registered entity.
Short history, thin capital
A company registered last month with ¥10,000 capital is a shell. We surface years in business and registered capital.
Operating abnormalities
Agents on China's "operating abnormality" list, or with court cases and enforcement records, are the ones that vanish with deposits.
Trader, not factory
An agent is legitimately a middleman — but if they claim to be the factory, our report flags the mismatch in their registered business scope.