Fake Company? hsicchip

[tarun172]

Hi eveyone,

I was wondering whether anyone had worked with a distributor firm called Hsicchip. The website claims they are based in Kronberg, Germany, but I believe they are not. They are not listed on the ERAI Scam List. Perhaps there is a new scam list that is regularly updated?

Website: http://www.hsicchip.de/

Thanks,
Tarun S

[pope]

Hi eveyone,

I was wondering whether anyone had worked with a distributor firm called Hsicchip. The website claims they are based in Kronberg, Germany, but I believe they are not. They are not listed on the ERAI Scam List. Perhaps there is a new scam list that is regularly updated?

Website: http://www.hsicchip.de/

Thanks,
Tarun S

I have no clue so I can't help but what makes you believe they're fake?

[PA0PBZ]

Only partial WhoIs information, only HTTP website, the address is on an industrial estate in a business complex.
I wouldn't send them any money.

[tarun172]

Two things that stood out to me:

1. Prompt response. They will answer any inquiry, any time of day. I sent an email late in the day and received a response. It was past midnight in Germany.

2. Mistakes. Spelling errors and submitting duplicate invoices. There were a few spelling errors in the email (I understand English may not be their native language), but seriously? There were two invoices issued for the same purchase. Just really strange.

3. No german language option: Hsicchip is a German company with no German language option?


Thanks,
Tarun S

[madires]

Telephone number is a mobile number, webpage has neither imprint nor GDPR info (required by law). Other required details like VAT ID or managing director are also missing. Looks very dodgy!

Checked a company register:
- managing director is someone in China, local proxy in Germany
- company was registered in January 2023
- moved from Kronberg to Kandel in October 2023

[Ice-Tea]

A few things:

- Website claims "worlds largest collection of electronic components" which is just hilarious. That, or Digikey, Farnell and the like are doing something wrong".
- On the footer "procucts". Yeah.
- I think a German company is required by law to list the geschaftsfuhrer on the site? Can't find that here.

Company is legit:

https://www.northdata.de/?id=5103877093851136
https://firmeneintrag.creditreform.de/61476/6290365614/HS_IC_TRADING_GMBH

Chinese folks with official chinese address though. Hence the spelling mistakes and weird hours. Also registered last year, not 2010 as the site claims. The website is also eye-wateringly generic.

All in all: either these are genuine chinese bussinessfolk trying to expand in the EU whilst taking a few liberties with the truth. Or these are just balls out scammers. The fact that they went throught the trouble of spending actual money and establishing an actual company would suggest maybe not scammers? Flimsy grounds to trust them with your money, though...

[tarun172]

Thanks everyone. This confirms my suspicion.

Thanks,
Tarun S

[5U4GB]

1. Prompt response. They will answer any inquiry, any time of day. I sent an email late in the day and received a response. It was past midnight in Germany.

Noticed something else at the bottom of the page, they give their Hours of Operation as "Monday-Sun 7:30am-6:30pm PST", not CET.  Unless Paderborn now has its own time zone that's very suspicious.

[tarun172]

Certified fake

[mon2]

yup.