# How to Avoid Supplier Scams in Kenya: Fake Stock, Fake Buyers and Advance-Fee Tricks

Scams target suppliers on both sides: the stock you buy and the buyers you sell to.

**Quick answer:** Buy from verifiable sources, inspect before paying, never pay to receive orders, and verify any buyer. Keep written records of every deal.

## Fake stock

Check serial numbers and packaging. Buy from known distributors. Be suspicious of prices far below market.

## Fake buyers

Verify the company. Be wary of urgent orders with advance-fee requests. Start with small quantities.

## Advance-fee tricks

Legitimate platforms do not charge you to receive orders. Creating a Qyvea vendor account is free.

## Records

Keep invoices, chats and delivery proof.

## Red 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.

## Red 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.

## If 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.

## Build 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.

## A 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.

## Common mistakes

Believing great prices. Paying upfront. No inspection.

## Quick checklist

Verify. Inspect. Record.

## FAQ

**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.

Sign up free: https://qyvea.co.ke/vendor?signup=1