1. The legal company: start with the Chinese name and USCC
Ask for the supplier's full Chinese legal name and its 18-character Unified Social Credit Code (USCC), normally shown on the current business licence. These identifiers are more reliable than an English brand name, marketplace store name or email signature.
Check that the name and code identify the same registered entity. If the supplier cannot provide a clear licence or the details differ across documents, resolve that before treating the company as the party to your transaction.
2. The contract: identify who is actually responsible
Read the legal entity named in the quotation, pro forma invoice, purchase order and contract. The entity taking responsibility for the goods, delivery and agreed terms should be clear. A website or sales representative can use a different trading name without being the contracting party.
If more than one company appears, ask each company's role in writing: who will contract, manufacture, invoice and be responsible if there is a dispute?
3. The invoice and bank beneficiary: compare the payment route
Compare the invoice issuer and bank beneficiary with the contracting company. A related trading company or export agent may sometimes receive payment for a legitimate reason, but the relationship and collection authority should be explained in writing and checked independently.
A request to pay a personal account, a different jurisdiction or a newly introduced company deserves extra scrutiny. Do not assume that a bank account is safe simply because the supplier's name appears somewhere in the payment instructions.
4. Any change: confirm through a channel you already know
Treat changed bank details, a new email address or a last-minute payment request as a separate verification event. Call a telephone number you previously verified or use another established channel. Do not rely only on the email or message that announced the change.
Keep a written record of the explanation and who confirmed it. This is a practical control against both misunderstanding and altered payment instructions.
A simple decision before you pay
- Chinese legal name and USCC obtained
- Contracting entity identified
- Invoice issuer compared with the contract
- Bank beneficiary matched or its relationship documented
- Any changes confirmed through an established independent channel
If a material inconsistency remains unresolved, consider delaying payment until you have more evidence. For a more detailed review of beneficiary mismatches, read our supplier bank-beneficiary checklist.