Vendor Verification

1. Overview

ThorAI operates a Know Your Business (KYB) programme for all vendors. This means we verify the legal identity of the business, the identity of the person operating it, and the legitimacy of the products being sold: before a store goes live and continuously thereafter.

Our verification programme is designed to protect buyers from fraud, protect legitimate vendors from being undercut by bad actors, and maintain the integrity of the ThorAI marketplace as a trusted commerce platform across Africa.

2. Identity Verification

All vendors are required to complete identity and business verification before their store is made publicly accessible. This includes:

Personal Identity (KYC)

• Government-issued photo ID: national ID card, passport, or driver's licence. The name on the ID must match the account registration name exactly.
• A real-time selfie or liveness check to confirm the ID belongs to the person registering.
• Phone number verification via OTP to confirm the vendor controls the registered number.

Business Identity (KYB)

• Certificate of incorporation or business registration document from the relevant national registry (e.g. Registrar General's Department in Ghana, CAC in Nigeria).
• A utility bill or bank statement not older than 3 months, confirming the business operating address.
• Tax Identification Number (TIN) where applicable, cross-referenced with the relevant tax authority database.
• For sole traders, a valid national ID linked to the trading name is accepted in place of incorporation documents.

Payout Account Verification

• Bank account details are verified against the business name via our payment partner (Paystack) before any settlements are processed.
• Mobile Money wallets are verified against the registered name on the telco's records before being activated for payouts.

3. Background Checks

Beyond document checks, ThorAI conducts background screening on all vendors prior to activation. This includes:

• Sanctions screening: vendor names, business names, and associated identifiers are checked against international sanctions lists (UN, OFAC, EU) and local regulatory watchlists.
• Adverse media screening: we conduct open-source checks for fraud allegations, regulatory actions, consumer complaints, and any public record of deceptive trading practices linked to the vendor or their business.
• PEP checks: Politically Exposed Persons and their immediate associates undergo enhanced due diligence before approval.
• Cross-platform history: where available, we review the vendor's trading history on other platforms for patterns of buyer disputes, chargebacks, or fraud reports.
• Product category review: product listings are screened against our prohibited items policy before a store is approved. High-risk categories require additional documentation.

Background check results are reviewed by our Trust & Safety team. Applications are not approved by automated decision alone: a human reviewer signs off on every activation.

4. Continuous Monitoring

Verification does not end at activation. ThorAI runs a continuous monitoring programme across all live stores:

• Transaction monitoring: unusual order volumes, abnormal refund rates, and atypical payment patterns are flagged for review automatically.
• Buyer complaint signals: a spike in buyer complaints, delivery disputes, or “item not as described” reports triggers an immediate store review, regardless of the vendor's prior standing.
• Re-verification events: vendors are required to re-verify their identity and business details annually, or whenever a material change occurs (change of ownership, new product categories, change of payout account).
• Sanctions re-screening: all active vendors are re-screened against sanctions and watchlists on a rolling 90-day cycle.
• Listing audits: active product listings are periodically audited for compliance with our acceptable use policy. AI-assisted scanning checks for prohibited content, counterfeit signals, and misleading product descriptions.

Vendors whose monitoring signals fall outside acceptable thresholds are contacted by our Trust & Safety team. Where a risk cannot be resolved, the store is suspended pending investigation.

5. The Verified Badge

The ThorAI Verified badge displayed on a store means:

• The vendor's identity has been confirmed against government-issued documents.
• The business is registered and in good standing with the relevant national registry.
• The vendor passed background and sanctions screening at the time of activation.
• The store is subject to continuous monitoring and re-verification.
• The payout account is verified and linked to the registered business identity.

The badge is automatically removed if a vendor's re-verification lapses, if their store is suspended, or if a disqualifying event is detected through continuous monitoring. It is restored once the issue is resolved.

6. Suspension & Removal

A verified vendor's store may be suspended or permanently removed if:

• Verification documents are found to be falsified or expired.
• The vendor is added to a sanctions list or subject to a regulatory action.
• Sustained buyer complaints indicate a pattern of deceptive or harmful trading.
• The vendor fails to complete re-verification within the required timeframe.
• Material changes to the business (ownership, category, location) are not disclosed to ThorAI.

Suspended vendors are notified by email with a reason and, where applicable, the steps required to restore their store.

7. Appeals

Vendors who believe their store was suspended or verification was declined in error may appeal within 14 calendar days of notification. To submit an appeal:

• Email support@trythorai.com with the subject line “Verification Appeal: [Store Name]”.
• Include any additional documents or context that address the reason for the decision.
• Our Trust & Safety team will acknowledge your appeal within 2 business days and issue a final decision within 10 business days.

8. Contact

Trust & Safety team: support@trythorai.com
General support: support@trythorai.com