Trading safely on 12sell

12sell is a network of real businesses, but it's still the open internet. The platform handles the matching and the messaging — the actual money moves between you and your counterpart through normal banking channels. That puts the responsibility for due diligence and payment hygiene on each side.

This guide is the playbook for trading safely. Most of it is universal to B2B trade; some bits are 12sell-specific.

Verifying a counterpart

Before sending money or stock, do a quick credibility check on the other business's profile.

Quick credibility checklist

A counterpart that fails 3+ of these is one to disengage from politely.

Verified vs unverified

Verified counterparts have already passed 12sell's document review. That doesn't mean they can't act in bad faith — it means an actor with a legal entity and ID is on the other side. The asymmetry of accountability is meaningful for any meaningful transaction.

For deals over a few thousand dollars, prefer verified counterparts. If your only viable counterpart is unverified, ask them to verify before closing — verification takes 24 hours and 3,000 tokens (~$100).

Document verification

If a counterpart shares a trade license / business registration:

• Note the registration number.
• Look up the registry on the relevant country's commercial bureau website. UAE has DED Trader / Dubai Economic Department; Singapore has ACRA; UK has Companies House; etc.
• Verify the company is in good standing and matches the name they're using.
• For high-value transactions, ask for a bank reference letter from their bank.

If they refuse to share a license claiming privacy, that's a red flag for trades above a threshold. Real wholesalers share licenses regularly.

Payment hygiene

The biggest source of trade losses isn't bad goods — it's bad payment terms.

Payment terms by deal size

These are baselines. Adjust based on counterpart credibility, your relationship history, and the goods.

Payment channels

What to avoid:

• Personal accounts on either side — a real wholesaler receives in their business name.
• Cryptocurrency for first transactions with unverified counterparts — irreversible, no recourse.
• Western Union, MoneyGram — generally a flag for B2B.
• Wire to a country your counterpart doesn't claim to operate in — pressure to send to a third country needs explanation.

What 12sell never asks for

12sell doesn't process trades on your behalf. The platform's payments are only:

• Token purchases (Stripe / Apple / Google).
• Verification fee (charged in tokens).

Anyone claiming to be 12sell asking you for payment to release goods, payment to escrow on 12sell's behalf, or password / OTP is a scam. Report immediately via Settings → Contact us.

Recognizing scams

The patterns we see most on 12sell, in order:

1. The "pay shipping first" hook

The counterpart offers an extraordinary deal but needs you to pay shipping/clearance/document fees up front. Real wholesalers either bake these into the price or invoice them separately after the deal is agreed. Never pay anything before the deal is documented.

2. The off-platform pivot

Within the first 1–2 messages, the counterpart pushes you to WhatsApp, Telegram, or a Telegram group "for private offers". Real B2B traders are happy to use 12sell's messaging — that's the audit trail. Sudden pressure to leave is a flag.

A reasonable counterpart asks to eventually move to WhatsApp for ongoing volume. A scammer wants to leave the platform's records on day one.

3. The new account with a hot deal

Account created 3 days ago, no showcases, default avatar, posting deals at 30% below market. Probable: scam.

4. The wire-then-disappear

Counterpart provides bank details, you wire 30% advance, communication slows, then stops. By the time you escalate, the receiving account is empty.

Defense: never wire to an unverified counterpart. Use escrow.

5. The bait-and-switch on quality

You get the goods but they're a different grade than promised. "Brand New" turns out to be Refurb. Defense: cash on inspection, or escrow with inspection holding period (often available on platforms like escrow.com).

6. The fake LC

Counterpart sends a forged Letter of Credit. Defense: have your bank verify the LC's authenticity directly with the issuing bank — never trust scans or screenshots from the counterpart.

7. The phishing message

Someone messages you posing as 12sell support, asking for your password, OTP, or asking you to click a link. 12sell support never asks for credentials. Real support communication arrives via the in-app Announcements inbox or email from a 12sell address.

Documenting deals

Every meaningful deal should be documented in writing inside 12sell messages before money moves:

• The specific product (model, condition, quantity).
• The price and currency.
• The delivery terms (Incoterms — FOB, CIF, DDP, etc.).
• The payment terms.
• The timeline (lead time, payment milestones, delivery date).
• The inspection / acceptance criteria.

Why inside 12sell messages: it's a timestamped, immutable record you can refer back to. If a dispute arises, the audit trail is there.

Escalation paths

If something goes wrong:

Step 1 — Talk

Most disputes are misunderstandings. The counterpart shipped the wrong color, the lead time slipped, the bank had a holiday. Talk first.

Step 2 — Document

Take screenshots, save invoices, save bank receipts. Keep them somewhere you control (not just inside the chat).

Step 3 — Escalate to the counterpart's commercial authority

If the counterpart is in a country with active business regulation (UAE, Singapore, UK, EU member states, US, etc.), file a complaint with the relevant authority:

• UAE: Consumer Protection Department
• Singapore: ACRA
• UK: Action Fraud
• US: FBI IC3 for online fraud
• EU: national consumer authorities

Step 4 — Bank-level dispute

If you wired funds, your bank may be able to recall the wire if you act within 24–72 hours. Some banks have B2B fraud insurance.

Step 5 — 12sell rule violations

Separately, if the counterpart's behavior on 12sell broke platform rules (fraud, misrepresentation, multiple bad-faith deals), report them via Reporting & Safety. 12sell can suspend the account and remove their content. We can't recover your money, but we can prevent more victims.

Step 6 — Legal

For large losses, work with a commercial lawyer in the counterpart's jurisdiction. International commercial dispute resolution exists (UNCITRAL, regional arbitration). It's expensive but viable for high-value cases.

Defensive habits that compound

The traders who get burned least often are the ones with boring, repeatable habits:

• They always verify counterparts before the first transaction.
• They always use the matching payment terms for the deal size.
• They always document deals inside 12sell chat before money moves.
• They never rush. Bad deals usually look perfect for 24 hours; the pressure is the warning.
• They prefer repeat counterparts. After the first successful deal with a counterpart, the cost of the next one drops dramatically.

Common questions

Is 12sell responsible if a counterpart scams me?

12sell is the matching layer. The actual trade happens between you and your counterpart through normal banking. The platform is responsible for keeping bad actors off, which we do via Verification, moderation, and acting on reports. We can't recover funds you sent off-platform.

Why doesn't 12sell process payments directly?

B2B transactions vary too much in size, terms, and jurisdiction for a one-size-fits-all payment system. Established channels (TT, LC, escrow) exist for exactly this.

What's the safest payment method on 12sell?

For first-time counterparts above ~$1,000: escrow (escrow.com or regional equivalent). Money is held by a third party until both sides confirm the deal completed. Eliminates the "pay-then-disappear" risk.

How do I check if a counterpart's claimed location matches reality?

Ask them to share a recent photo of stock with a current newspaper or visible date marker. Check their IP location signal in their profile (visible to mobile apps). Request a video call.

Should I always wait for verification?

For deals under $1,000 with otherwise credible signals (showcases, activity, social presence), it's reasonable to proceed unverified. For larger deals, verification matters more.

What if a counterpart asks to verify me?

That's a good sign — it means they care about counterpart credibility. Apply for Verification yourself. The 3,000 token cost (~$100) pays for itself many times over in successful deals.

What about insurance?

Trade credit insurance exists (Atradius, Coface, regional insurers). For frequent international trades above ~$50,000, it's worth a conversation with a broker. For occasional medium-value deals, escrow does most of what insurance would.

Next steps

• Verification — the platform-level trust signal you and your counterparts use.
• Reporting & Safety — when to file a moderation report.
• Hide & Block — defensive controls when a counterpart goes wrong.
• Getting verified — your own path to the verified badge.