Today, I’d like to share a recent experience that could happen to any small business owner — an overseas order that turned out to be a potential scam.
If you run a handmade or small online business, please take a few minutes to read this. It might save you from losing money someday.
It Started with a Simple Inquiry
One day, I received a message through my website contact form.
The question was:
“Can you use the shipping company I usually work with?”
At that time, I didn’t think too much about it. Since I didn’t know how much the shipping would cost, I replied, “Sure, that should be fine.”
Soon after, a very large order came in — much larger than what a small handmade business usually receives.
I have to admit, my first reaction was: “Wow, this is amazing!”
A Big Order from Switzerland
The buyer said they were from Switzerland and asked me to ship to a specific address.
But something didn’t feel right.
So, I asked a few questions:
“How did you find my shop?”
“Why do you need such a large quantity?”
I also looked up the name and address on Google Maps and LinkedIn.
The address existed, but it was far from any major city, and I couldn’t verify any business or personal details.
The “Shipping Company” Red Flag
Following their instruction, I contacted the “shipping company” they mentioned.
I sent one email — no reply.
Then I sent a follow-up reminder — finally, one week later, I received a response.
To my surprise, the invoice they sent quoted a shipping fee that was more than double the order amount!
They also claimed they could deliver “door to door within 2–3 business days” and that “a representative would come directly to my home for pickup.”
That already sounded odd.
Even stranger — on the same day I received the reply from the shipping company, I also got an email from the buyer asking,
“Have you heard back from them yet?”
That timing made things even more suspicious.
Understanding the Trick
After some thought, I realized how the scam probably works:
- The buyer pays Tokita Kobo with a credit card.
- I pay the shipping company (their partner) for the expensive shipping fee.
- The buyer cancels the credit card payment afterward.
- I lose both the order amount and the shipping payment.
In other words, the “buyer” and the “shipping company” are likely the same person or group.
My Response
I replied to the buyer and said:
“If you know the shipping company, please pay them directly for the shipping fee.
Or, we can use Canada Post with tracking instead.”
After that message, I never heard back from them again.
I guess they realized I had figured it out.
What I Learned
This experience taught me an important lesson:
The bigger the order, the more carefully you should check.
Here are a few takeaways for other small business owners:
- Double-check unfamiliar email addresses and locations.
- Verify the shipping company through their official website.
- Be cautious if the buyer insists on using their own courier.
- Large, sudden orders can be a red flag.
Scammers often target small businesses, especially those that sell handmade goods online.
When something feels “too good to be true,” it usually is.
Final Thoughts
Through this experience, I was reminded of how important trust and verification are in business.
If you ever receive a suspicious inquiry or order, don’t hesitate to investigate or ask questions.
And most importantly — share your story with other small business owners.
By helping each other stay informed, we can protect our creative community from scams like this.
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