On this page
01. Fake stock02. Fake buyers03. Advance-fee tricks04. Records05. Red flags on the buying side06. Red flags on the selling side07. If you suspect a scam08. Build habits that protect you09. A typical scenario10. Common mistakes11. Quick checklist12. Frequently asked questions
Buy from verifiable sources, inspect before paying, never pay to receive orders, and verify any buyer. Keep written records of every deal.
Key takeaways
- Verify sources and buyers.
- Never pay a fee to receive orders.
- Inspect before paying.
01Fake stock
- Check serial numbers and packaging.
- Buy from known distributors.
- Be suspicious of prices far below market.
02Fake buyers
- Verify the company.
- Be wary of urgent orders with advance-fee requests.
- Start with small quantities.
03Advance-fee tricks
Legitimate platforms do not charge you to receive orders. Creating a Qyvea vendor account is free.
04Records
Keep invoices, chats and delivery proof.
05Red flags on the buying side
- Prices far below any distributor.
- Pressure to pay immediately.
- Sellers who will not let you inspect or test.
- Packaging that looks reprinted or inconsistent.
- Serial numbers that repeat or cannot be verified.
06Red flags on the selling side
- A buyer who asks you to pay a fee to receive orders.
- An urgent order that avoids normal paperwork.
- A request to deliver to a different place at the last minute.
- A buyer with no verifiable address or website.
- Anyone who asks for your M-Pesa PIN or one-time codes. Never share these.
07If you suspect a scam
- Stop. Do not pay or deliver.
- Keep all messages and numbers.
- Verify the company independently.
- Report to the police and to the platform involved.
- Warn colleagues in your trade group.
08Build habits that protect you
- Verify before every large purchase.
- Test samples before pallets.
- Keep invoices.
- Use traceable payments.
- Trust your instincts when something feels rushed.
09A typical scenario
A vendor refuses a too-cheap lot of recorders after serial numbers fail a check, avoiding a loss.
Illustrative example based on common cases, not a named vendor.
10Common mistakes
- Believing great prices.
- Paying upfront.
- No inspection.
11Quick checklist
- Verify.
- Inspect.
- Record.
12Frequently asked questions
How do I spot counterfeits?
Compare packaging, labels and serials against genuine units.
What if a buyer pushes me to deliver without paperwork?
Do not deliver.
Can I report a scam?
Report to the police and the relevant platform.
Is Qyvea safe to supply?
See our guide on checking any buyer.
This guide describes how supplying through Qyvea works at the time of writing. The Vendor Terms and the Sell on Qyvea page are the final word on fees, returns and payment. Examples marked illustrative are not real vendors or earnings.
