Scam library
The fraud playbook, broken down
Cross-border steel fraud is rarely original. These are the 14 recurring patterns we see most often, grouped by type. Open any one for the full breakdown, warning signs, and countermeasures.
Documented patterns by category
How the 14 patterns in this library break down across the four fraud families. Document and quality fraud dominate because they are cheap to attempt and hard to catch without independent checks.
Document fraud
4 patternsForged Mill Test Certificates (MTC / EN 10204 3.1)
A supplier sends a polished PDF certificate that does not match the steel actually shipped — wrong grade, invented chemistry, or a copied mill stamp.
Read the breakdownFake Third-Party Inspection Report
A counterfeit SGS, BV or TÜV inspection report — stolen logos, invented inspector names, or a report from a company that never visited the site.
Read the breakdownDouble Invoicing & Customs Under-Valuation
The supplier issues different invoices to you, the bank, and customs — often under-declaring value, leaving you liable for penalties, demurrage and audits.
Read the breakdownForged Standards Certification (ISO, CE, SASO, SNI, API)
Forged conformity certificates — ISO 9001, CE, SASO/SABER, SNI, API 5L — used to pass project or import requirements with non-compliant steel.
Read the breakdownPayment fraud
3 patternsPayment Redirection & Bank Account Swap
Just before a wire transfer, the buyer receives an email with 'updated' banking details that route the payment to a fraudster's account.
Read the breakdownEmail Domain Spoofing & Business Email Compromise
Fraudsters register a near-identical domain (one changed character) or hijack a mailbox, monitor the thread for weeks, then inject fraudulent instructions.
Read the breakdownOffshore / Third-Party Bank Account Trap
Payment is requested to a Hong Kong, Singapore or UAE account — or a personal account — that does not belong to the contracting company and is hard to recover from.
Read the breakdownQuality & quantity fraud
4 patternsHead-and-Tail (Sandwich) Coil Loading
Containers are loaded with compliant material at the front and back, while substandard or short-weight coils are hidden in the middle.
Read the breakdownCoating-Weight & Galvanizing Fraud
Galvanized or coated steel is sold with a stated zinc coating (e.g. Z275) but ships far thinner, failing corrosion requirements.
Read the breakdownGrade Substitution (lower grade shipped than ordered)
The mill certificate matches your spec, but the steel shipped is a cheaper, lower grade — S235 for S355, 201 for 304, Q195 for Q235, A36 for A572.
Read the breakdownBait-and-Switch Quality
Advance samples test excellent, but the bulk shipment is a lower-grade or reject material — the MTC matches the sample, not what was actually shipped.
Read the breakdownIdentity & shipment fraud
3 patternsPhantom Factory & Borrowed Credentials
A trading company poses as a manufacturer, using photos, videos and licenses borrowed from a real mill it has no relationship with.
Read the breakdownDeposit-Then-Disappear
An attractive price secures a 30% deposit, after which the supplier stalls, invents problems, and ultimately goes silent.
Read the breakdownFake Bill of Lading & Ghost Shipment
Shipping documents show cargo loaded and sailing, but the container is empty, never existed, or the bill of lading number is recycled from an old shipment.
Read the breakdownReady to pressure-test a real supplier?
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