Your company is expecting a shipment of 10,000 T-shirts from a company in Pakistan. You recently received a call from a nearby bank that it was in possession of a negotiable bill of lading aboard the ship Jhelum and documents from Pakistan covering a shipment of T-shirts, and that they were awaiting your payment. However, you are concerned. The Pakistani company made the initial contact with your firm via the Internet, locating you through one of several trade directories in which you are listed. The prices quoted for shirts are considerably less than what you currently pay or are able to pay for a comparable quality. You begin to do some research. You find the company's site on the Internet, with pictures of its mill and textile products. Several days after you make enquiries through the U.S. Commercial Service, you receive an e-mail from its office in Karachi indicating that one of its staff officers was unable to locate the mill, but thought that the company "was currently exporting from Pakistan." Recently you have been hearing of many international business scams. You are worried about what might really be in the ocean container and wonder if you should purchase the documents from the bank or refuse them just in case. You look at the documents and see that the bill of lading is dated one day later than the date for shipment called for in the contract. You are getting cold feet, and think you might want out.

3. What practical problems might you encounter from such a refusal?

4. What additional information would you like to make a "better" decision?

5. What are your (other) options?