To verify an Indian exporter, check four things yourself: the Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) against the government record, the relevant export registration such as APEDA or the Spices Board, the company's identity and bank account, and a physical visit or independent audit. No single document proves a supplier is genuine. A fake spice exporter in India usually fails when you check several of them together.
How to check an IEC code
The IEC is a ten-character code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and is required for exporting. Ask the supplier for it, then check it on the DGFT website, which has a facility to look up IEC details. Confirm that the legal name and address on the record match the name on the invoice, the bank account and the certificates. An IEC held by a different company, or by an individual with a similar name, is a warning. Use the official site rather than a link the supplier sends, and as of October 2026 confirm the current lookup method there.
How to check APEDA registration and Spices Board
Many agri exporters register with APEDA and receive a registration-cum-membership certificate, and spice exporters also register with the Spices Board. Ask for the certificate number and check it with the issuing body. See what APEDA registration is and Spices Board registration. Registration shows the firm is known to the system. It does not prove quality or that the firm manufactures anything.
Is my Indian supplier legit? A background check
Go beyond the registrations. These steps cost little and catch most problems:
- Look up the company in the government corporate registry and confirm its name, directors and incorporation date.
- Check that the GST and food-safety licence (FSSAI) numbers belong to the same legal name and address.
- Search the company name and directors together with the words fraud, complaint and scam.
- Ask for two buyer references in your region and call them.
- Compare the address with a map image and ask for a live video walk through the premises.
- Confirm the bank account name matches the company, and never pay into a personal account.
Reliable or fake? Red flags in a spice export scam
Genuine and fake suppliers can both have polished websites. Be careful with an offer far below every other quote, pressure to pay a large advance quickly, refusal to allow an independent inspection, and a request to change bank details by email. Free email addresses, no landline and photos taken from other websites are further signs. Sourcing agent red flags lists similar patterns for agents.
Trader or manufacturer?
A genuine trader is not a scam, but you should know what you are buying from. Traders add a layer and can change the source from lot to lot. The test is evidence of production: ask for photos of the plant with today's date, the factory licence and a visit. How to tell a trader from a manufacturer explains the checks, and finding genuine agri exporters in Gujarat covers the regional route.
Next step
We verify registrations, audit the plant, check samples and documents, and supervise production and loading, for one written fee agreed in advance. To have a supplier checked before you pay, book a free sourcing review.