Introduction — The Fatal Mistake Buyers Make When They Ask for POP Too Early

In the petroleum industry—EN590, Jet A1, D6, LPG, LNG, Crude Oil—there is one sentence that kills more deals, exposes buyers to fraud, and instantly reveals inexperience:

👉 “Show me the POP.”

Every real refinery, allocation holder, tank farm operator, and institutional seller immediately classifies a buyer as non-professional when they ask for POP prematurely.

Why?

Because:

• POP cannot legally be shown before compliance

• POP cannot be released before SPA + POF

• POP is the most confidential document in the supply chain

• POP leakage exposes tank farms to hijacking

• Fake POP is the No.1 scam mechanism worldwide

The truth nobody tells buyers is simple:

👉 Real POP is ONLY released at the end of a verified procedure — never before.

This article explains:

• What real POP is

• Why early POP requests are dangerous

• How fake sellers use POP to scam buyers

• When POP is legally issued

• How to verify POP without being scammed

• How NNRV protects buyers and sellers through compliant POP workflows

SECTION 1 — What POP Really Is: The Most Sensitive Document in a Petroleum Transaction

1.1 POP = Proof of Product, Not Proof of Intention

Real POP is not an email, not a WhatsApp screenshot, not “tank photos,” not “SGS from last week.”

Real POP includes:

• SGS Q&Q report

• Certificate of origin

• Export license

• Tank storage receipt

• DTA-approved tank access

• Bill of lading (for CIF/FOB post-loading)

• Injection report (TTT/TTV)

These documents are highly sensitive because they prove:

• Product exists

• Tank exists

• Seller has ownership

• Logistics are real

• Supply chain is live

Releasing them too early can compromise:

• Tank security

• Refinery allocations

• Port authorities

• Compliance approvals

1.2 POP = The Most Forged Document in the Energy Industry

Fake “POP documents” are the primary tools of:

• Telegram scammers

• Fake mandates

• Direct-to-refinery fraud groups

• Tank hijacking networks

Buyers who request POP before compliance fall directly into these traps.

1.3 Sellers Must Legally Protect POP

Under:

• ICC

• ISPS Port Security

• FATF AML

• EU/OFAC sanctions

• Refinery internal compliance

Sellers cannot release POP before verifying:

• Buyer identity

• Buyer company

• Buyer bank

• POF structure

• SPA acceptance

Asking for POP before this = absolute red flag.

SECTION 2 — Why “Show Me the POP” Is the Most Dangerous Sentence

There are five major reasons why buyers must never ask for POP early.

2.1 Asking for POP Reveals Inexperience

Every refinery knows:

• Serious buyers follow procedure

• Amateur buyers demand POP

• Brokers pretend to be buyers

When buyers ask for POP early, the seller concludes:

❌ Buyer is not ready
❌ Buyer does not understand the process
❌ Buyer is likely a broker
❌ Buyer is not bankable
❌ Buyer is high risk

Deal dies instantly.

2.2 POP Shown Too Early = 100% Scam

Any seller who sends POP BEFORE:

• KYC

• ICPO

• SPA

• POF

• Compliance approval

Is a scammer.

No exceptions.

2.3 POP Reveals Sensitive Tank & Refinery Data

POP exposes:

• Tank number

• Terminal name

• Operator name

• Product location

• Volume in tank

• SGS timestamps

• Certificate references

• Bill of lading identifiers

If scammers access this, they can:

• Hijack the tank

• Create fake offers

• Clone documents

• Blacklist the tank farm

Real sellers protect POP at all costs.

2.4 POP Has a Legal Sequence

POP is only delivered AFTER:

1️⃣ Full KYC
2️⃣ Seller issues SCO
3️⃣ Buyer issues ICPO
4️⃣ Seller issues draft SPA
5️⃣ Buyer signs SPA
6️⃣ Buyer demonstrates POF (MT799/RWA/BCL)
7️⃣ Seller clears compliance
8️⃣ Seller issues POP

Any deviation = scam.

2.5 Buyers Asking for POP Attract Fraudsters

Fraudsters hunt for buyers willing to:

• Break procedure

• Ask for POP

• Pay fees upfront

• Bypass compliance

• Accept fake documents

Asking for POP = magnet for scammers.

SECTION 3 — NNRV Expert Analysis: How Real Sellers Release POP Legally

3.1 Real Sellers Release POP Only After POF + SPA

This protects:

• Refinery integrity

• Tank farm operations

• Financial security

• Legal compliance

POP is a post-contract, post-compliance document.

3.2 Real POP Is Always Verified Through Bank Channels

Examples:

• MT799 authentication

• MT199 soft verification

• Secure email to bank compliance

• SGS verification code

• Terminal operator confirmation

Never through:

❌ WhatsApp
❌ Gmail
❌ PDF screenshots
❌ Telegram
❌ “Trust me bro”

3.3 POP Is Never Sent to Brokers

POP is sent ONLY to:

• Buyer

• Buyer’s bank

• Buyer’s compliance department

Intermediaries never receive POP.

3.4 POP Cannot Be Issued Before Tank Allocation Is Confirmed

Real sellers must book a tank slot before issuing:

• TSR

• Q&Q

• DTA

• Injection log

If a seller sends these without a real tank → scam.

3.5 POP Must Match SGS and Terminal Records

Buyers can verify authenticity by requesting:

• SGS traceability

• Terminal call

• Reference number validation

If the seller refuses verification → fake.

SECTION 4 — Step-by-Step: The Correct POP Sequence (Institutional Workflow)

Step 1 — Buyer Submits KYC

COI, UBO, passport, website, profile.

Step 2 — Seller Evaluates Buyer

Compliance + sanctions.

Step 3 — Seller Issues SCO

Procedure, price, port, terms.

Step 4 — Buyer Issues ICPO

Accepts seller terms.

Step 5 — Seller Issues Draft SPA

Buyer reviews and signs.

Step 6 — Buyer Provides POF

MT799 / RWA / BCL.

Step 7 — Seller Releases POP

After compliance + SPA + POF approval.

Step 8 — SGS / DIP Test

Depending on ROI.

Step 9 — Payment (MT103)

Gross price paid.

Step 10 — Title Transfer

Q&Q → release → injection → loading.

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

10 Buyer Questions

1. Why can’t I see POP first?

2. Can POP be shown before SPA? (Never)

3. Is POP needed for DTA?

4. Can SGS verify POP?

5. How do I verify POP authenticity?

6. Do buyers receive POP directly?

7. Can the seller send POP to my mandate? (No)

8. What POF is required before POP?

9. When do I get TSR?

10. Does asking for POP delay deals? (Yes)

10 Seller Questions

1. How do I avoid fake buyers?

2. Should I release POP early? (Never)

3. How do I protect tank data?

4. What sequence prevents fraud?

5. What documents can be shared before POP?

6. Can I show partial POP? (No)

7. What KYC is mandatory before POP?

8. How do I comply with refinery SOP?

9. When do I release Q&Q?

10. Should I work with NNRV for screening? (Yes)

SECTION 6 — Why This POP Sequence Is Globally Recognized

This process follows:

• ICC Incoterms 2020

• Basel III banking rules

• FATF AML/CFT regulations

• OFAC/EU/UN sanctions

• ISPS maritime compliance

• Refinery SOP and tank farm security

• SGS / Intertek international standards

Used by:

• Shell Trading

• Vitol

• Trafigura

• Mercuria

• Glencore

• Gunvor

• BP

• TotalEnergies

This is the ONLY real, lawful POP method.

SECTION 7 — Professional CTA

📌 Need POP-Verified Sellers Without Risk?

NNRV Trade Partners provides:

• POP verification

• Seller authentication

• Allocation validation

• KYC/UBO compliance structuring

• SPA review

• POF sequencing

• Anti-scam due diligence

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

We ensure you only deal with real refinery-backed sellers who follow the correct legal POP sequence.

Mini FAQ (5 Key POP Questions)

1. Can I get POP before SPA?
   No—illegal.

2. Why is early POP dangerous?
   It exposes you to scammers.

3. How do I verify POP?
   Through SGS, terminal, or bank.

4. Is POP required before DIP test?
   Depends on seller procedure.

5. Can NNRV verify POP for me?
   Yes—full verification process.

Why Choose NNRV Trade Partners?

• Institutional anti-fraud expertise

• Real refinery channels

• End-to-end buyer protection

• SWIFT-based verification

• International compliance leadership

• Zero-tolerance fraud policy