The China Bank Switch Scam: Don't Wire Money to the Wrong Account

Over my 20 years as a China sourcing agent, I've seen even veteran importers fall victim to a scam they thought was only for beginners. The China Bank Switch Scam proves that trust alone isn't enough—it can happen to anyone who doesn't verify payment details rigorously. Here's how it works and how to safeguard your hard-earned money.

How does the China Bank Switch Scam work?

You have cooperated with one Chinese trade partner for a long time. Since he had always performed well, you lowered your guard. When you receive a message about a new bank account number, you don’t suspect anything. You simply transfer money to the given account number. After all, you have worked with this Chinese supplier for many months or even years. You never had any problems, so you trust him. However, unexpectedly, the manufacturer doesn’t want to send the goods and claims that he didn’t receive any payment. But you had transferred money to him!

What happened? The money transfer indeed happened, but it was wired to the scammer’s bank account instead of your partner’s. Why? The information about the switched bank account was sent by a scammer, possibly a former employee who still has access to the company’s electronic mailbox, or sent you a message via WeChat. Provided bank account number is actually a private bank account or account of another company.

How to avoid the China Bank Switch Scam?

The company owner could change the bank account number, but it could also be false information from a former employee. In order to protect yourself from this scam, it’s essential to confirm a bank account, ideally in several ways. It’s not enough to check the authenticity of the e-mail address which sent the message! Make sure over the phone that the person that sent the message still works in the company. Find out whether the current company’s bank account number is the same as the one listed in an e-mail. You can also request the company to fax you this information, confirmed by the legal representative’s signature and a company chop. It will lower the risk of falling victim to a scam.

To protect yourself from the potential scam in the future, at the beginning of the cooperation, you can set up a special procedure to confirm bank account changes with your supplier. Before transferring money to a new bank account number, it’s always better to spend some more time and make sure that everything is correct rather than gullibly transferring money to the given account. Remember that banks don’t offer insurance on such transfers. After completing the payment, there’s a slim chance of getting the money back.

When should a bank account number raise your suspicion?

Before transferring money to China, you should also pay attention to the type of bank account. This way, there’s a smaller chance of falling victim to the China Bank Switch Scam and other frauds (for example, transactions with a non-existing company). Generally, money transfer to a company account is relatively safer than a private bank account.

However, you still need to check the bank and country where the account is registered. If it’s a Chinese bank, the risk of fraud is significantly smaller than in the case of a bank account in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region with its currency, law, and banking system. It’s very easy to open a company there. Therefore companies registered in Hong Kong may be involved in various types of fraud. The Offshore Banking Unit should also raise suspicion as it’s a bank unit registered abroad, most often in a tax haven. Fraudsters often use this kind of bank account for money laundering, tax evasion, and other illegal activities.

Remember!

The China Bank Switch Scam is a constant threat, whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned importer. Always confirm new bank details through a separate phone call or fax with a company chop—never rely solely on email or WeChat. For added security, let China-Check verifiy your supplier's credentials and factory background before you send a single dollar. A small verification step today can save you from a major loss tomorrow.