From a sales perspective, it’s always exciting when a new inquiry comes in — especially when it’s for a large purchase. A few weeks ago, we received one of those inquiries. After reviewing the price list the prospective customer chose honey — one of our favorites — and everything seemed to be moving forward smoothly.
Because the customer had no prior history with us and requested credit terms, our policy required a credit check and verification of trade references. He provided references promptly, complete with emails from supplier company domains. Within days, we received glowing feedback from those contacts. Soon after, the customer placed a purchase order for a full truckload. Fantastic, right?
But something felt off. I called the customer to learn more about his business and the stores he supplied. Nothing immediately stood out, but our Operations Manager shared my concern and dug deeper. She contacted the company directly to confirm the individual’s employment — they said yes — but on closer inspection, tiny discrepancies emerged. A single letter was off in the name. The email domain included a dash the legitimate company did not use.
It was a scam. We had narrowly avoided a very costly mistake.
Moral of the story: Always have someone on your team with experience, and a discerning eye. A few minutes of extra verification can save thousands.