Warning about many "ghost businesses" looking for partners from Vietnam

The Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands said that recently the Trade Office has investigated the authenticity and existence of a number of Dutch enterprises and a number of cases where Vietnamese enterprises, after signing contracts, paid 10-30% in advance, or even paid 100% in advance for goods, but did not receive the goods as agreed, or lost contact...

The investigation results of the Trade Office show that some scammers have impersonated companies registered to operate legally in the Netherlands to create websites under the names of these companies; or established businesses with incorrect business registration or business lines similar to the business transactions being conducted with the Vietnamese side.

Some individuals set up fake websites to impersonate businesses to commit fraudulent transactions. Illustrative photo

These companies are usually one-person companies. When the Sales Department contacts the phone number posted on the website, the phone is often unanswered, or the phone is automatically answered.

In addition, when the Trade Office contacted the phone number registered in the business registration file at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, the real owners of the companies often said they had no relationship or business contacts with Vietnamese enterprises. These companies mainly offered to sell food, beverages, consumer goods and used machinery and equipment; or imported seafood... which are high-value items.

Therefore, the Trade Office advises Vietnamese businesses to be extremely cautious in transactions with newly acquainted companies, whose addresses are obtained from the internet, in some cases from the Alibaba network, or with whom they have not yet had business transactions.

Before making business commitments with this enterprise, Vietnamese companies should contact the Vietnamese Trade Office in the Netherlands to learn about the existence and legality of the Dutch partner as well as possible risks./.