When we order on Alibaba, we base a vendor's legitimacy by weighing number and quality of reviews, company age, and revenue volume numbers. Normally, longer lived businesses, with revenues that make sense based on industry and size, with legitimate and consistent good reviews, are the way to go. New companies will always be a higher risk. Also, pay attention to the sales person's questions and behaviors. Red flags include: they don't seem to understand their own product, they don't understand the import/export process, or they don't respond in a timely manner. Alibaba's Trade Assurance program gives some piece of mind, although there is a value cap, which many of our orders have exceeded. That said, we have yet to be scammed when ordering through the platform. I assume Alibaba does some extensive vetting since their name is on the line.