We checked the US and Pakistani rules on this page in September 2026. Rules change, so we confirm them again before we start your work. We are not lawyers or tax advisers. Where a license is needed, we work with licensed partners.
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does it cost? | $149 per buyer. Included for every new buyer on our US Sales Desk. |
| How long does it take? | Usually 3 to 5 business days. |
| What do I get? | A written report with what we found, what we could not confirm and suggested payment terms. |
| Does it guarantee payment? | No. It lowers your risk. For first orders we still suggest safe payment terms. |
Why check buyers
Once your container leaves Karachi, getting it back is slow and expensive. A buyer who does not pay can cost you the whole order. Common problems include buyers who pay the first small order and then default on a large one, fake companies set up to collect goods, and emails that pretend to come from real, well-known US companies.
What we check
- Company registration with the US state: is it active, how old is it, and who runs it
- Whether the address is a real business location or just a mailbox
- Whether the website, email domain, phone number and address all match, and how old the website domain is
- A business credit report from a US business credit bureau, where one exists
- Public records of lawsuits, liens and bankruptcy
- Whether the company appears in US import records for products like yours
- US Treasury sanctions lists (OFAC)
- References from other suppliers, when the buyer agrees
- Common scam signs, listed below
Warning signs of scams
- A free email address, or a web address that is one letter different from a real company
- A large first order on credit, with pressure to ship fast
- A request to ship to a freight forwarder or a country different from the buyer's address
- An offer to overpay and ask you to send back the difference
- A purchase order that looks official but has phone numbers that do not match the company's real website
- A buyer who will not do a video call or give references
- Changes to bank details or delivery addresses by email at the last minute
If an email looks like it comes from a big US company
Do not reply to it. Find the company's real phone number on its official website and call to check the order is real. We can do this for you.
Your report
Within 3 to 5 business days you get a short written report. It lists what we found, what we could not confirm and our view on safe payment terms for a first order. We rate the buyer as clear, caution or stop, and explain why in plain English.
Safer payment terms for new buyers
- Advance paymentLowest riskThe buyer pays in full by bank transfer before you ship.
- Letter of creditLowest riskThe buyer's bank promises to pay when you present the correct documents. A confirmed letter of credit is safest.
- Part advance, balance before documentsLow riskThe buyer pays part now and the rest before you release the bill of lading.
- Documents against paymentHigher riskThe banks hold the shipping documents until the buyer pays. You still carry risk if the buyer refuses the goods.
- Open accountHighest riskYou ship and wait to be paid. Only for buyers with a clean record, ideally with trade credit insurance.
For open account terms, ask your bank or the EXIM Bank of Pakistan about export credit insurance. Our guide on how to get paid safely by US buyers explains each option.
How we check, legally
We use business records: state company registers, business credit reports, court and bankruptcy records, import data and sanctions lists. We do not pull personal consumer credit reports on individuals. US law limits who can see those and why.
Price
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Single buyer report | $149 (about Rs. 42,000) |
| US Sales Desk clients | Included for every new buyer |
Common questions
Can you check a buyer I found myself?
Yes. Send us the buyer's company name, website and contact details, and we check them the same way.
How long does a buyer check take?
Usually 3 to 5 business days.
Does a clean report mean the buyer will pay?
No. A report lowers your risk but cannot guarantee payment. For first orders, we still suggest advance payment or a letter of credit.
Do you check sanctions lists?
Yes. We check every buyer against the US Treasury sanctions lists before you trade with them.
What if the buyer is a well-known US company?
Scammers often pretend to be well-known companies. We confirm the order through the company's real, published contact details.