The Petroleum Bot Farm Scam: No Product, No Buyer, No Seller
If you work in trade finance, commodities, or sourcing, you will have seen the emails. EN590, Jet A1, LNG, and multiple other products offered from a mix of ports, often with “flexible CIF or FOB” and a request for an ICPO. These messages are rarely from principals. Many are generated and distributed by bot-driven networks that manufacture both fake supply and fake demand, then keep intermediaries engaged in paperwork cycles that do not result in execution.
Petroleum cargoes clear through established relationships and credit processes.
Pricing is benchmark-linked with narrow operational differentials.
A deep discount offered to unknown counterparties is not a market signal. It is a screening tool used by fraud networks.
How the Real Petroleum Supply Chain Works
A bankable petroleum transaction is defined by allocation, custody, and settlement. For an overview of how lenders evaluate commodity flows, start with our explanation of what Trade Finance is
and the practical steps described in How It Works.
Production and allocation
Refineries plan runs and output is allocated, often under term contracts, to vetted counterparties with documented credit capacity and compliance readiness.
Scheduling and custody transfer
Nominations, vetting, and survey slots are scheduled in advance. Quantities and quality are verified at custody transfer points through independent processes.
Documentation and title
Contract milestones, bills of lading, inspection documentation, and clear title mechanics are aligned to a settlement path that banks can accept.
Settlement
Pricing is benchmark-linked with small, explainable differentials tied to quality, location, and logistics. The premise is execution certainty, not headline discounts.
Why the “Discount” Narrative Fails
Deep discounts offered to unknown counterparties are incompatible with how petroleum is sold. Large volumes are not marketed through random email lists. They are allocated through commercial teams to buyers who can demonstrate credit capacity, compliance, and execution readiness. When you see “less 10 to 30 percent” promoted over informal channels, it is not price discovery. It is an inducement aimed at parties who do not know how real supply clears.
How Bot Farm Networks Operate
The structure is designed to create motion without verifiable substance. The objective is not delivery. The objective is engagement until a fee request is accepted.
Distribution at scale
Email addresses are scraped from directories and professional networks, then campaigns are blasted through rotating infrastructure and disposable inboxes.
Template rotation
Ports, products, and names are swapped frequently. The underlying language and procedures remain materially identical across campaigns.
Dual persona setup
One side presents as a seller mandate while another presents as a buyer mandate. The aim is to create the illusion of matched counterparties.
Fee trigger
After NDAs, ICPOs, and “procedures,” the process shifts to an inspection fee, a legal fee, a performance bond fee, or a title transfer charge.
Examples of Common Script Lines
“Are you in need of petroleum products, or do you represent a buyer?”
“We currently have available allocations for EN590 10PPM, Aviation Fuel, D6 Virgin Fuel, FOB terms.”
“Our refineries can deliver promptly to any safe world port under CIF, FOB, and TTO terms.”
Real Trade vs. Bot Farm Packages
| Real petroleum trade |
Bot farm package |
| Vetted counterparties, defined credit process, documented authority |
Cold outreach to unknown parties, unclear authority, rotating contacts |
| Corporate communication channels and compliance readiness |
Free mailboxes and inconsistent signatories |
| Benchmark-linked pricing with narrow operational differentials |
Headline “discounts” presented as the core profit driver |
| Clear custody transfer and inspection framework |
Procedures that avoid verifiable custody and substitute paperwork volume |
| Bankable settlement and documentary alignment |
ICPO-first workflow followed by a fee request |
Operational Response for Corporate Teams
The fastest way to reduce losses is to standardize your screening process. If your team receives frequent petroleum “offers,” ensure the file is evaluated against a defined workflow and escalated only when it meets basic bankability thresholds. Our procedure
outlines the minimum documentation and sequencing expected in financeable transactions. If a pitch cannot meet that baseline, it should not proceed to internal resourcing.
Set a minimum bar
Require principal authority, traceable custody, and a workable settlement path before any “buyer documents” are produced or shared.
Avoid fee-driven workflows
Any process that relies on upfront payments to unknown parties is not compatible with bank-grade execution standards.
Financely’s Role
Financely is an advisory and arrangement platform. We do not broker petroleum products. Where appropriate, we help clients structure and present legitimate trade finance transactions for lender review. If you are unsure whether a petroleum pitch is financeable, we can provide a concise verification memo that documents the gaps and explains why the transaction fails bankability criteria. For legitimate transactions, our Trade Finance
page outlines how to submit an RFQ for feasibility review.
Request a Verification Memo
Submit the offer materials and counterparty details for review. We will revert with a structured memo outlining the bankability outcome and the key deficiencies.
Request a Verification Memo
Disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory, investment, or credit advice. Financely is not a bank, insurer, broker-dealer, or investment adviser. Any financing is provided solely by third-party counterparties under their own approvals and documentation. All engagements are subject to eligibility, KYC and AML review, sanctions screening, credit approval, and execution of formal agreements.