Introduction — WhatsApp Is Where 99% of Fake Sellers Operate

Every week, buyers complain:

• “The seller only wants to talk on WhatsApp.”

• “He refuses email and only sends SCO on WhatsApp.”

• “He says the refinery director is on WhatsApp.”

• “They want ICPO on WhatsApp.”

• “He sent POP on WhatsApp.”

The rule is simple:

Any seller who communicates ONLY via WhatsApp is not a real seller.
Any refinery “executive” on WhatsApp is 100% fake.

Real sellers—refineries, allocation holders, tank owners, exporters—operate through institutional channels only:

• Corporate email

• Secure data rooms

• SWIFT MT messaging

• Official documents with serial numbers

• Compliance-controlled communication

This article explains why institutional sellers NEVER rely solely on WhatsApp, how real commercial desks operate, and how to instantly identify fake “refinery sellers” on social media.

SECTION 1 — Understanding How Real Petroleum Sellers Operate (Macro + Governance)

1.1 Real Sellers Are Regulated Institutions, Not Individuals

Real sellers include:

• Refineries

• Authorized allocation holders

• Tank farm owners

• Licensed exporters

• Government-linked NOCs

• Major trading houses

These institutions operate under:

• SOX corporate governance

• Basel III trade rules

• OFAC/EU sanctions compliance

• Internal AML/KYC policy

• Internal data security protocols

None of these institutions allow:

❌ SCO on WhatsApp
❌ POP on WhatsApp
❌ SPA negotiation on WhatsApp
❌ Compliance documents on WhatsApp
❌ POF screenshots on WhatsApp

This violates every internal rule they have.

1.2 WhatsApp Communication Is Non-Compliant and Non-Traceable

Companies handling:

• Dangerous goods (EN590, Jet A1)

• High-risk cargo

• Dual-use restricted products

• International shipping

• SWIFT-based settlements

…must use traceable, secure communication channels, because regulators audit them.

WhatsApp violates:

• ISO 27001

• GDPR

• Data retention rules

• Corporate governance

• AML audit trails

Refinery legal departments prohibit it.

1.3 Refineries and Tank Farms Use Multi-layer Verification (Not WhatsApp)

Real sellers communicate through:

• @company.com emails

• Encrypted client portals

• Secure datarooms

• Commercial desk ticketing systems

• eSign corporate SPA platforms

• SWIFT

• Maritime platforms (Q88, Lloyd’s, IMPA)

WhatsApp is used only for logistics coordination AFTER SPA, never for commercial or compliance.

SECTION 2 — Why Fake Sellers Love WhatsApp

2.1 They Can Hide Their Identity Easily

Fake sellers avoid:

• Corporate verification

• KYC

• Legal traceability

• Company background checks

WhatsApp allows them to:

• Use fake names

• Change numbers

• Disappear anytime

• Create fake “refinery groups”

• Impersonate executives

2.2 They Can Send Fake Documents Without Detection

Most fake sellers use WhatsApp to send:

• Recycled SCO

• Fake POP

• Fake SGS

• Photoshop certificates

• Modified invoices

Why?
Because WhatsApp avoids document metadata.

2.3 They Avoid Corporate Accountability

A real refinery uses:

• Dedicated legal department

• Risk management

• Commercial compliance

• Internal document numbering

• Databases that track all communications

Fake sellers avoid all that—WhatsApp gives them complete anonymity.

2.4 WhatsApp Allows Emotional Manipulation

Fake sellers exploit:

• Informal tone

• Urgency tactics

• “Brother”, “my dear”, “my friend”

• Time pressure

• False scarcity

• Fake refinery stories

Institutional sellers NEVER use this language.

SECTION 3 — NNRV Expert Analysis: How Real Institutional Sellers Communicate

3.1 Real Sellers Follow a Strict Document Chain

Real sellers use:

1. Corporate email only

2. ICPO → SCO → SPA workflow

3. Document numbers + traceable metadata

4. Compliance-approved templates

5. Authorized commercial desks

Anything outside this chain = fraud.

3.2 Real Sellers Never Speak Before Compliance Clears the Buyer

Before communication begins, they require:

• KYC

• CP/Company Profile

• RWA/BCL

• Consumption or distribution capacity

• Sanction screening

• Financial background

This is impossible via WhatsApp.

3.3 Real Sellers Use Industrial Systems, Not Messaging Apps

Professional communication occurs via:

• SAP

• Oracle

• Salesforce Energy Cloud

• Docusign Corporate

• SWIFT MT

• ISO-compliant servers

• Terminal access platforms

WhatsApp is used only for:

✔ Vessel ETA updates
✔ Driver arrival confirmations
✔ OTP for gate entry

Never for:

❌ Negotiation
❌ Pricing
❌ POP
❌ SPA
❌ Compliance
❌ Contract signing

SECTION 4 — Step-by-Step Guide: How Institutional Sellers Handle Communication

Step 1 — Buyer submits ICPO + KYC via email

Step 2 — Compliance review (AML, sanctions, capacity)

Step 3 — Seller commercial desk responds via corporate email

Step 4 — SCO issued (PDF with serial number)

Step 5 — SPA negotiation via email + legal archived channels

Step 6 — Dataroom access for POP & operational documents

Step 7 — SWIFT & operations start

Step 8 — Optional WhatsApp ONLY after SPA for operational coordination

This is the real industry process.

SECTION 5 — Buyer & Seller Questions (20 Institutional Answers)

10 Buyer Questions

1. Can a refinery director be on WhatsApp? → Never

2. Is WhatsApp alone a red flag? → Yes, 100%

3. Should POP be sent on WhatsApp? → Illegal

4. What communication proves a real seller? → Corporate email

5. Can I send ICPO on WhatsApp? → Never

6. How do I verify if a seller is real? → NNRV verification

7. Does WhatsApp violate compliance? → Yes

8. Why do fake sellers insist on WhatsApp? → To avoid traceability

9. Is WhatsApp acceptable after SPA? → Only for logistics

10. How does NNRV filter real sellers? → Through compliance, not chat apps

10 Seller Questions

1. Should I speak to buyers on WhatsApp only? → No

2. When should WhatsApp be used? → After operations begin

3. How do I protect my chain? → Only email communication

4. What is the risk of WhatsApp-only? → Fraud exposure

5. How do I present myself institutionally? → Corporate channels

6. Do buyers trust WhatsApp sellers? → No serious buyer does

7. Can I send SPA on WhatsApp? → Prohibited

8. Should I send SCO or POP on WhatsApp? → Absolutely not

9. How do I become a recognized seller? → NNRV vetting

10. Does WhatsApp violate confidentiality? → Yes

SECTION 6 — Why Institutional Communication Is Required by Law

Refineries and energy companies follow:

• ISO/IEC 27001 (information security)

• ICC Incoterms 2020

• OFAC/EU/UN sanctions

• Basel III documentation rules

• GDPR

• SOX

• Internal anti-bribery protocols (ISO 37001)

None of these standards allow commercial negotiation via WhatsApp.

SECTION 7 — Professional CTA

📌 Need to Verify That a Seller Is Real?

NNRV Trade Partners provides:

• Seller authenticity checks

• Refinery & allocation verification

• Document authentication

• POP/Q&Q validation

• Chain-of-command protection

• Buyer & seller compliance advisory

📩 info@nnrvtradepartners.com
🌐 www.nnrvtradepartners.com

Protect yourself from WhatsApp fraud—work institutionally.

Mini FAQ (5 Key Questions)

1. Can a real seller use WhatsApp?
   Only after SPA and only for operations.

2. Is WhatsApp a sign of fraud?
   When used exclusively for deals: yes.

3. Can POP be shared on WhatsApp?
   Impossible—violates compliance.

4. Is WhatsApp secure?
   Not for corporate commercial use.

5. How does NNRV authenticate sellers?
   Through compliance, corporate channels, and document validation.

Why Choose NNRV Trade Partners?

• Institutional-level compliance enforcement

• Real refinery & allocation verification

• Scam filtering & anti-fraud procedures

• Global petroleum transactional expertise

• End-to-end buyer & seller protection