You paid. The goods never arrived, or arrived as garbage. Your supplier stopped responding. If this happened to you, you're not alone — and there are still steps you can take, even when recovery feels unlikely. The first 72 hours matter most.
Step 1 — Stop All Communication and Document Everything
Before doing anything else: screenshot every conversation, payment receipt, product specification, and contract you have. Save these off the platform — email them to yourself, upload to Google Drive — in case the supplier deletes their account or blocks you.
Do not send more money under any circumstances — not to "reship," not for a "customs fee," not to "unlock" your stuck shipment. These are secondary scam attempts that follow the initial fraud.
Step 2 — Identify the Type of Fraud
The recovery path depends on what actually happened:
- Paid through Trade Assurance, goods didn't match specs → file a dispute immediately within the Alibaba platform
- Paid via wire transfer and received nothing → contact your bank for wire recall within 72 hours
- Paid via wire and received wrong or defective goods → gather documentation, contact Alibaba, prepare for formal dispute
- Never received a tracking number after deposit → this is typically a non-shipment scam; escalate immediately to Alibaba and your bank
Step 3 — File Through Alibaba Trade Assurance
If you paid through Trade Assurance, this is your primary avenue. Go to your Alibaba order page and open a dispute. You'll need to upload evidence showing the gap between what was agreed and what was delivered — product specifications from the original contract, photos and video of goods received (or evidence of non-receipt), and communication logs showing the supplier's commitments.
Alibaba's mediation team typically responds within 3–7 business days. If mediation fails, Alibaba can escalate to arbitration under their buyer protection terms. Keep your communication professional and evidence-based throughout — the more documentation you have, the stronger your case.
Step 4 — Contact Your Bank Immediately
If you transferred funds via wire (T/T), call your bank's fraud department now. Wire recalls are possible if executed within a short window — sometimes as little as 24–48 hours after transfer. After that window, the odds drop sharply. Banks vary widely in how aggressively they pursue recalls, but the attempt costs nothing and the window closes fast.
For credit card chargebacks: possible but harder for international B2B transactions. Your bank's dispute team can advise on whether your specific transaction qualifies under chargeback rules.
Step 5 — Report the Supplier
Even if recovery isn't possible, reporting the supplier matters. It removes them from the platform faster, protects future buyers in the same position you were in, and creates a documented trail if you pursue legal remedies later.
Report via Alibaba's "Report a Supplier" function on their profile page. For amounts above $10,000, also consider reporting to your country's trade authority, an international fraud reporting body, or consulting a trade lawyer familiar with China disputes.
What This Means for Your Next Order
Factory verification before payment isn't paranoia — it's standard practice in professional importing. A $350 verification visit on a $15,000 order is 2.3% risk insurance. Every professional sourcing agent, trading company, and import manager uses some version of this before committing significant funds.
The gap between "I checked their Alibaba profile" and "I verified their factory in person" is where most sourcing disasters live. Closing that gap is what we do.
Burned Once. Being Careful Next Time.
SourciaVera verifies Chinese factories before you commit a deposit — we visit in person, check licenses, and inspect the production floor so you know exactly what you're dealing with before money moves.
Request a Factory Verification