Check a Chinese supplier's Proforma Invoice before you pay the deposit
Before you wire a deposit to a new supplier in China, the Proforma Invoice (PI), the company behind it and the bank account should all point to the same business. This page lists what to check, how to read the warning signs, and how ChinaPayCheck can review a single case for you.
ChinaPayCheck is an independent buyer-side evidence review and China sourcing agent. It is not a law firm, bank, escrow agent, insurer or recovery agency, and it does not promise supplier safety, account ownership, product quality, shipment, recovery or legal outcomes. Details are on the service boundaries page.
The short answer
- The PI issuer, the company you checked, the contract party and the bank beneficiary should be the same legal entity. If they are not, get the reason in writing before you pay.
- Treat any change of bank details sent by email or chat as unconfirmed until you verify it by phone on a number you already had.
- Check the money: unit price times quantity, deposit share, what triggers the balance payment, and the Incoterm.
- Work out landed cost before you commit, not after the goods have shipped.
- If you want a second pair of eyes, start with Free Triage (0 USD) for one supplier, one PI and one payment decision.
What to check on the Proforma Invoice
| Check | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer name | Full legal company name in English matches the business licence and the contract | A trading company can issue PIs for a factory; you need to know which one you are paying |
| Unified Social Credit Code | The 18-character code on the business licence belongs to the PI issuer | It lets you look the company up in the official enterprise registry |
| Bank beneficiary | Account name matches the issuer exactly, not a person or another company | Payment to a personal or third-party account is a common warning sign |
| Bank location | Mainland China account or an offshore Hong Kong account | Hong Kong accounts are common in trade but should be explained when the contract party is a mainland company |
| Changed bank details | Any new account sent mid-deal, often with an urgent tone | Confirm by phone on a known number before any payment |
| Goods description | Model numbers, materials, packaging and quantities | Vague descriptions make disputes hard to settle |
| Price arithmetic | Unit price times quantity, currency and totals all add up | Errors and padding show up here first |
| Payment terms | Deposit share and the balance trigger, for example before shipment or against a copy of the bill of lading | Tells you how much money is exposed and for how long |
| Incoterm and place | EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP with a named port or address | Decides who pays freight, insurance and duty |
| Inspection and samples | Pre-shipment inspection and sample sign-off written into the terms | This is your leverage before the balance is paid |
| Date, validity and stamp | Issue date, validity period and the company stamp | An old or unstamped PI may not bind the issuer |
Common mismatches and what they can mean
- Different company on the PI and the licence. Often a trading company or sister company. Ask which entity signs the contract, ships the goods and receives the money, and get it in writing.
- Offshore Hong Kong account for a mainland supplier. Common, but ask for documents that link the Hong Kong company to the supplier you vetted.
- Bank beneficiary changed by email. The pattern behind many invoice frauds. Stop and verify by phone before paying anything.
- Deposit far above the usual share, or full payment up front. Your exposure rises and your leverage falls. Ask whether part can move to the balance.
- No inspection or sample terms. Add them before the deposit, not after.
Work out landed cost before you commit
The PI price is only part of what you will pay. Add freight from the factory to your door, insurance, import duty and taxes in your country, customs broker and port fees, inspection, payment fees and final delivery. The China landed cost and QC calculator lets you model these lines and see how the deposit and balance fit against your margin.
How a ChinaPayCheck review works
- Free Triage, 0 USD. Send one supplier, one Proforma Invoice and one payment decision through the contact page. You get a first read on whether the documents line up and whether a deeper review is worth it.
- Single-Case Pre-Payment Review, 49 USD. Offered only after your Free Triage is accepted. It covers that same case in more depth, and its scope is modelled on the example case EXAMPLE-CPC-001.
- Workspace for repeat buyers. If you check suppliers often, the ChinaPayCheck workspace has four tiers: Free 0 USD, Starter 20 USD/month, Growth 100 USD/month and Pro 200 USD/month. Cancel any time. Supplier goods and shipping are billed separately.
| Workspace tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | 0 USD |
| Starter | 20 USD/month |
| Growth | 100 USD/month |
| Pro | 200 USD/month |
What ChinaPayCheck does not do
ChinaPayCheck is an independent buyer-side evidence review and China sourcing agent. It is not a law firm, bank, escrow agent, insurer or recovery agency, and it does not promise supplier safety, account ownership, product quality, shipment, recovery or legal outcomes.
ChinaPayCheck never asks for passwords, banking logins, card numbers, private keys or one-time codes. If anyone claiming to be ChinaPayCheck asks for these, do not send them.
Read the full service boundaries before you send a case.
Contact
- Email: hello@chinapaycheck.com
- WhatsApp: +86 18320859081
- Start Free Triage: chinapaycheck.com/contact/
Frequently asked questions
Is ChinaPayCheck a law firm, bank or escrow service?
ChinaPayCheck is an independent buyer-side evidence review and China sourcing agent. It is not a law firm, bank, escrow agent, insurer or recovery agency, and it does not promise supplier safety, account ownership, product quality, shipment, recovery or legal outcomes.
What does Free Triage cover?
Free Triage is 0 USD and covers one supplier, one Proforma Invoice and one payment decision. Send it through the contact page at https://chinapaycheck.com/contact/.
When is the 49 USD review offered?
The 49 USD Single-Case Pre-Payment Review is offered only after your Free Triage is accepted. Its scope is modelled on the example case EXAMPLE-CPC-001.
Is an offshore Hong Kong bank account a red flag?
Not on its own. Many mainland suppliers bill through Hong Kong. It needs an explanation when the account name differs from the company on the contract, or when the account appears late in the deal.
The supplier just sent new bank details. What should I do?
Do not pay yet. Confirm the change by calling a phone number you already had for the supplier, not one given in the same message, and ask for the change on company letterhead with the company stamp.
Will you ask for my bank login or card number?
No. ChinaPayCheck never asks for passwords, banking logins, card numbers, private keys or one-time codes.
Does a clean review mean the supplier is safe?
No. A review tells you what the documents and records show and where they do not line up. It gives evidence and assurances about that evidence, not promises about the supplier, the goods or the outcome.
Links
- ChinaPayCheck (main site)
- Contact and Free Triage (one supplier, one PI, one payment decision)
- China landed cost and QC calculator (model freight, duty and fees)
- Service boundaries (what a review does and does not cover)
- ChinaPayCheck workspace (Free, Starter, Growth and Pro tiers)