INTEL
Status: blockedCLUSTERNovorossiysk-Turkish-Med Dark Fleet Cluster added — confirmedStatus: blockedCLUSTERPinnacle Petrol LLC added — likelyStatus: blockedCLUSTERAdeel Mehmood added — likelyStatus: blockedCLUSTERSimar Chahal added — confirmedStatus: blockedCLUSTERSSW Kafcima added — likelyStatus: pendingCORPUS431 entities · 64 countries
← Scam playbook

Scam playbook

POP / POF and advance-fee fraud in oil deals

Any structure where the buyer is asked to demonstrate or move money first — a POF, an 'allocation fee', a 'tank rental', a 'TTO/TTT' charge — before the seller has proven they control any product.

How it works

  • 1.The counterparty asks for Proof of Funds (POF) up front, shifting all early risk to the buyer.
  • 2.A small 'fee' is requested to 'secure allocation', 'pay the tank farm', or 'release the cargo'.
  • 3.Once paid, a new fee appears, or the counterparty goes dark.

Red flags

  • Any fee payable before independent verification of the seller and the product.
  • POF demanded before the seller proves title or allocation.
  • 'Refundable' deposits with no escrow and no verified custodian.

What the real version looks like

Legitimate sellers prove they control product (allocation, SGS/inspection, named title holder) before money moves, and fees sit in escrow with a verified party — never a personal or freshly-opened account.

This page describes a general fraud pattern for educational purposes. It is not an accusation against any specific person or company. A clean check is not a clearance — documentary KYC and licence verification still apply.