Checklist: vet a wholesale supplier before you pay

Most wholesale scams start by wiring money to a seller nobody ever verified. Before paying for a large lot, run these seven checks. 1. Business registration — ask for the number and check it against Thailand’s DBD. 2. A real location — does the factory or warehouse actually exist? Ask for on-site photos, video, or a map pin. 3. Bank account name — it must match the company/owner; be wary of unrelated personal accounts. 4. Delivery track record — ask for verifiable reviews or past customers. 5. Product paperwork — licenses, certifications, or import documents relevant to the goods. 6. Start with a small order — never go all-in on the first deal. 7. Keep every record — chats, quotations, and written agreements. On Trust Gate the badge on a shop tells you which of these have been done: “Document Verified” means our team checked the ID card against the bank-account name (step 3) and a shop or stock photo; “Onsite Verified” means we visited (step 2). Steps 4–7 stay with the buyer every time, and shops labelled “Public data” have not been checked at all.