Payment instrumentspof
POF
Proof of Funds — a bank document evidencing a buyer can pay; weaponised in reverse advance-fee schemes.
POF (Proof of Funds) is a bank-issued statement or SWIFT message showing a buyer holds or can access the funds for a purchase. Legitimate buyers provide POF via their own bank on request, and it is verifiable bank-to-bank. In scams, POF is demanded early to "qualify" a buyer, then used to solicit an upfront transmission or MT799 fee — or the POF itself is forged to impersonate a credible buyer. A PDF alone proves nothing.
Frequently asked
- What does POF mean in oil and commodity trading?
- Proof of Funds — a bank document evidencing a buyer can pay; weaponised in reverse advance-fee schemes.
- How do I check a counterparty that uses POF in a deal?
- The term itself is not enough to clear or condemn a deal. What matters is the counterparty behind the pitch. Screen that name for free against 8 sanctions lists plus PEP and OilFlow's first-party cluster corpus in seconds, or order the full 7-step dossier for $25, and confirm identity documents and banking details independently before you transact.
See also