Checking a wholesale supplier before a deal

Confirm who you are dealing with, where the goods are and whether the commercial information is consistent.

Identify the business and the contact

Ask for the business name, address and the identity of the person handling the sale. Compare the details on the quotation, invoice and any company information you can independently verify. A familiar logo or a professional-looking listing is not a substitute for these checks.

Email confirmation on LOTB2B confirms access to an email address. It does not certify a company, its stock, its solvency or the fulfilment of a sale.

Confirm control of the goods

Ask where the lot is stored and who can authorise inspection and release. A seller may be an owner or an intermediary; clarify that role and whether an inspection or a live presentation of the stock can be arranged.

Pay attention to inconsistent quantities, reused photos or pressure to proceed before basic questions are answered. These are reasons to investigate further, not proof by themselves that a business is fraudulent.

Use independent checks where relevant

For an EU VAT number, VIES can help check its registration for cross-border EU transactions. An invalid result may have several causes and is not by itself proof of fraud. Confirm unresolved details with the supplier or the relevant authority.

Keep the documents and written conversation together. If a listing appears misleading, send its link and your factual observations through the platform contact form. Do not send passwords or unnecessary identity documents.

VIES · Your Europe

Before moving forward

Match business details across the quotation and invoice.
Clarify the seller’s role and stock location.
Request current evidence of the goods.
Investigate inconsistent information before proceeding.
Keep records of the checks and the written agreement.