About
An independent resource for steel buyers
SteelVerify exists to level the information gap between first-time importers and the operations that target them. We are not a government agency and not a supplier.
China produces more than half of the world's steel, and the overwhelming majority of suppliers are legitimate. But the scale of the trade, the distance between buyer and mill, and the technical complexity of steel products create openings that a small number of bad actors exploit.
We collect anonymized reports from buyers, publicly documented cases, and input from inspectors and traders to map how these schemes actually work. We then turn that into plain-language guides, checklists, and risk indicators any buyer can use before sending money.
Our principles
Independent and unaffiliated
We do not sell steel, take commissions from suppliers, or run a directory of 'approved' mills. Our only goal is to help buyers ask better questions.
Patterns over names
We publish fraud patterns and risk indicators, not blacklists of specific companies. Naming individual firms invites disputes and is quickly gamed; understanding the mechanics protects you for years.
Honest about limits
No checklist eliminates risk. We tell you what verification can and cannot prove, and when to bring in independent inspectors, auditors, or legal advisors.
How we research and publish
Our guidance is built from real reports and established trade practice, then kept current as tactics change.
- 1
Collect
We gather anonymized reports submitted by buyers, publicly documented trade-fraud cases, and first-hand input from inspectors, freight forwarders, and traders.
- 2
Pattern-match
Individual incidents are stripped of identifying detail and grouped by mechanism — how the deception actually works — rather than by who was involved.
- 3
Pressure-test
Each pattern and recommended control is checked against industry practice (GSXT registry checks, EN 10204 certificates, PMI testing, loading supervision) before publication.
- 4
Review & update
Guidance is revised as new tactics emerge and as reader corrections come in. We treat our checklists as living documents, not one-off articles.
What we can and cannot do
What this resource does
- Explain how each major steel-import scam actually works.
- Give you concrete checks to run before sending money.
- Help you match verification effort to the real risk of an order.
- Outline the fast steps to take if you have already been targeted.
What it cannot do
- Vet or approve a specific supplier on your behalf.
- Guarantee any supplier is honest or any order will be safe.
- Replace independent inspection, audit, or legal advice.
- Recover funds, mediate disputes, or provide legal representation.
How our figures are derived
Any statistics shown on this site are illustrative estimates compiled from anonymized buyer reports and published cases. They are not official government figures and should not be cited as such. They exist to convey the relative scale and shape of the problem, not to provide precise accounting.
Have a case to share or a correction?
Submit a confidential report or get in touch with our team.