You’ve probably received an email like this and wondered why you were “the chosen one” to buy oil at a discount. Think about it. Why would anyone with millions of barrels to sell blast an anonymous message from a free email account to strangers? Because it’s a scam. These so-called Soft Corporate Offers (SCOs) prey on greed and on people who don’t understand how physical oil trades are actually done. Even if you tried to raise capital for a deal like this — something we get pitched on several times a week — any serious due diligence would kill it instantly. Don’t waste a cent or a second.
Here’s the sort of copy-and-paste pitch that bot farms push out every day, stripped of any identifying contact details:
“Dear Sir/Madam,
We are direct mandates for reliable refineries capable of supplying a range of petroleum products of Kazakhstan origin to any secure port worldwide.
Available products include JP54, Diesel Gas Oil D2, ESPO, AGO, Aviation Kerosene Jet A-1, D6 Virgin Oil, ULSD EN590, Fuel Oil CST 80/380, LNG, LPG, REBCO, UREA, etc.
Please find attached our Soft Corporate Offer (SCO) for your review. We can also arrange tank farm storage through trusted partners.
Best regards,
[Name Hidden]”
Every line is recycled. There is no refinery, no tank farm, no product. It’s bait to lure you into sending fees or disclosing personal data. The fact that these emails are pumped out by the thousands — with only names and product lists swapped — tells you everything you need to know.
Legitimate oil and gas sales are complex and capital-intensive. Real traders show refinery allocations, verifiable contracts, vessel nominations, Q88s, and SGS inspection reports. Counterparties clear KYC/AML checks and maintain credit facilities with major banks. Pricing is market-linked, not “discounted CIF Rotterdam” fairy tales. Deals are closed by professionals with long-standing track records, not by random Gmail accounts.
Even if someone tried to finance one of these fantasy cargoes, lenders and investors would shut it down on day one. Real capital providers demand audited financials, full counterparty KYC, and hard evidence of storage and shipment. SCO peddlers cannot provide any of this. The deal implodes the moment an underwriter asks for proof of title or performance.
Physical oil trading is expensive, complex, and regulated. Traders put up margin, hedge price risk, pre-finance cargoes, and carry large credit lines. They hold certifications, maintain long-standing supplier relationships, and comply with international shipping and insurance standards. Discounts are slim — often just cents per barrel — and reflect logistics, not fantasy. You can’t break into this market with a Samsung tablet and a WhatsApp group. Anyone claiming otherwise is selling you a story, not oil. Don’t be greedy, and don’t be a mark. Delete the email and move on.
Financely is a private credit and capital advisory. We do not arrange or endorse unsolicited “Soft Corporate Offer” deals. All engagements are subject to KYC, AML, and compliance checks. This article is for informational purposes only and not an offer to buy or sell commodities.
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