How to avoid becoming a victim of fraud when renting or buying shipping containers
The market of shipping containers is attractive for fraudsters who offer favourable conditions, but in the end do not fulfil their obligations. To protect yourself from fraud, it is necessary to carefully check companies offering container rental or sale services.
Main fraud schemes
●Fictitious companies: Fraudsters create websites and social media accounts imitating the activities of real companies. They offer attractive prices and a wide range of containers but disappear after receiving prepayment.
●Document forgery: Fraudsters may forge documents to prove ownership of containers or provide false information about container specifications.
●Overpriced and substandard services: Fraudsters may offer overpriced containers or provide substandard services such as delivery or repairs.
How to check a company offering container rental or sales services
Legal information verification:
○Legal address: Check if the company exists at the specified address.
○Licenses and certificates: Make sure the company has all the necessary licenses and certificates to operate.
○Reviews: Look for reviews of the company on the Internet on specialized forums and sites.
Financial stability check:
○Market tenure: The longer a company has been in the market, the more likely it is to be reliable.
○Reputation: Talk to the company's customers who have already used its services.
Contract verification:
○Details: The contract should clearly state all the terms of the transaction, including the description of the container, cost, delivery time, warranties and liability of the parties.
○Due diligence: Itis advisable to consult a lawyer before signing the contract.
Payment:
○Safe payment methods: Pay for services only using verified payment methods, such as bank transfers.
○Partial prepayment: Do not transfer the full prepayment amount at once. A part of the amount can be transferred after confirming the availability of the container and its conformity with the stated characteristics.
Delivery and inspection:
○Delivery to the warehouse: Ask for the container to be delivered to your warehouse or a neutral location for inspection.
○Careful inspection: Carefully inspect the container for damage and conformity with the stated specifications.
Additional recommendations
1. Ensure that all employees who process supplier's invoices and have the authority to change bank details in CRM are as vigilantly as possible, and keep them informed. It is better to keep changes and history of changes to financial arrangements in a separate file or cloud.
2. When a supplier's invoice has been paid, it is advisable to personally inform that supplier of the payment made.
3. Check bank statements carefully. All suspicious transactions should be reported to your bank immediately.
4. If you are suspicious about a request to change a counterparty's details, ask if you can call the supplier back. Do this using their contact details to determine if they are the real counterparty.
5. Fraudsters often conduct online research to find out suppliers for specific companies. Think twice about whether it is important for you to keep information about your regular counterparties on your website and other publicly available sources.
Reliable container suppliers
When choosing a container supplier, give preference to large and trusted companies with a good reputation. Companies such as Conway Container Solutions offer a wide range of containers, guarantee high quality and provide a full range of services.
Conclusion
When buying or renting a shipping container, be vigilant and thoroughly check all potential partners. By following these recommendations, you will be able to avoid fraud and choose a reliable container supplier.