Jeddah, Aug 26(Arab News): The Saudi Embassy in Beijing has cautioned Saudi businessmen to be careful about online swindlers while they make deals with Chinese businessmen.

The warning has been sent to the chambers of commerce and industry across the Kingdom.

The warning comes in the wake of complaints from Saudi businessmen who fell victim to online offers of profitable business deals from China.

It is after the money is transferred to their online counterparts that the complaining businessmen realize that they have been conned, the commercial attache's office at the embassy in Beijing said in the warning letter.

An importer of consumer goods from China and India Abdul Kareem Munshi said he was almost on the point of being cheated by an online offer from a Chinese exporter offering carpets at a rate far below normal.

"However, I e-mailed the exporter asking for the terms and conditions. But there was no response and when we checked the site again, it was not there. Then I realized that I was on the point of being swindled," he said.

A Saudi businessman dealing in school supplies said he received an e-mail about cheaper school materials from Hong Kong. "After the initial correspondence, I mailed them to say I would come in person to test the samples. It was after that I received no reply from that source again," the businessman who preferred to remain anonymous said.

Some companies appearing on the Internet were unregistered or nonexistent and therefore the money paid to them would be lost without any chance of recovery, the attaché said.

"If any Saudi wants to deal with Chinese firms online, he should ensure the legality of the establishment," the attaché added. The official also pointed out the difficulty in ascertaining the quality of goods and taking other protective measures when dealing online, especially with firms in distant countries.

Secretary-General of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Adnan Mandoura confirmed receiving the warning from the Saudi Embassy.

He said the message clearly stated that no money should be transferred to Chinese companies without verifying the correctness of the company's account number and other necessary details, and also its e-mail address for correspondence.

Mandoura said the warning affirmed the need for not signing agreements or contracts through e-mail and not to buy Chinese goods except from officially approved sites.