Scam Alert: Fake Freight Forwarder Disappears After Collecting Payment

Scam Alert: Fake Freight Forwarder Disappears After Collecting Payment

I still remember a news from last year, a scam where fake overseas "freight forwarders" lure shippers with rates much lower than the market price. They collaborate with a legitimate Shanghai-based forwarder (let's call them Shanghai A) to arrange payment terms and provide Shanghai A's contact details for booking. After the goods are shipped and the freight fee is collected, the scammers vanish, leaving Shanghai A to deal with the fallout.

These scammers copy the email address and signature of a European freight forwarder (let's call them Europe B) to gain Shanghai A's trust. The fake email is almost identical to the real one, with just one letter different.(shipping to Dominican Republic)

This scam isn't new. It's similar to those where scammers imitate the email address and signature of a payment agent to trick companies into sending money to the wrong bank account. That's why it's so important to stay vigilant. Don't rely solely on email. If you receive an email about booking or a change in bank account details, make sure to verify the contact information through phone calls, WeChat, or other reliable methods to confirm the identity of the other party. If possible, visit the freight forwarder's office to ensure they are a trustworthy company.

Many freight forwarders today are small operations with just a few people, especially in places like Shenzhen, where there are around 60,000 forwarders. While most of these companies are legitimate, some may have questionable practices. The scam we mentioned was likely carried out by one of these smaller companies. On the other hand, larger, established freight forwarders wouldn't engage in such behavior.

At **Sunny Worldwide Logistics**, we've been in business for 26 years and have grown significantly. We're not a small operation working out of a rented space; we have our own 1,800-square-meter Grade A office in a commercial district in Shenzhen. You can even video call us to see our office. We have our own logistics fleet, a rarity in our industry, with only about 10% of companies having this capability. We also use our self-developed ERP software to manage inventory and share data with clients—something that's hard to find elsewhere in China.

A few days ago, there was an unexpected incident at Ningbo Port—a massive explosion, leading Yang Ming Marine Transport to declare General Average. This is bad news for shippers. On August 20th, Yang Ming announced that one of their vessels, YM Mobility, caught fire while operating at Ningbo Port on August 9th. They declared the incident a General Average, meaning all shippers with cargo on that vessel must share in the losses. Before shippers can retrieve their goods, they'll need to provide a General Average guarantee.

This incident highlights that the logistics industry is full of surprises, and an unexpected event could happen at any time. While we can't predict accidents, we can minimize risks by choosing a reliable, large-scale freight forwarder with strong risk management. That way, if something does happen, you'll have a better safety net.

At Sunny Worldwide Logistics, we promise full compensation for any damage or delays within our control. We offer comprehensive services, including order tracking and logistics, directly connecting with overseas end customers—something rare in the logistics industry. Most of our clients stick with us after just one collaboration because they see that we care more about their cargo than they do! Sometimes, even factories we work closely with become our clients. We never add hidden fees after signing a contract, and we avoid the common pitfalls in foreign trade logistics. We even provide detailed accounting services, often keeping records more meticulously than our clients.

We are one of only three companies out of 60,000 in Shenzhen with a dedicated foreign trade warehouse at Yantian Port. We own our 1,800-square-meter office space and operate our own fleet of trucks. When it comes to punctuality and efficiency, few can compare.