Lessons From the Field: The $150 Million Deal That Didn’t Exist

Introduction

Every fraud case begins with confidence — someone convinced they’ve finally found “the one.”
This one was no different.

A client approached us with a clean $150 million deal. The seller had inspection reports, allocation letters, even bank correspondence. Everything looked airtight.
Except it wasn’t.

The Setup

The offer came from a company claiming to be a mandated seller for a West African refinery. The documents included:

• POP (Proof of Product)

• SGS inspection report

• Allocation certificate

• Terminal storage letter

• Bank comfort letter

Every PDF looked perfect. Logos were crisp, numbers aligned, and digital stamps looked authentic. Even the email headers matched the refinery’s domain — at first glance.

But something didn’t add up.

The Red Flags

Our forensic review found subtle but fatal inconsistencies:

1. Metadata timestamps didn’t align with the inspection dates — files were created months later.

2. Density values contradicted the product specification for that refinery’s batch history.

3. The bank comfort letter referenced a department that didn’t exist in that institution.

4. Refinery signatories weren’t listed in the corporate registry.

In less than 24 hours, what looked like a multi-million-dollar opportunity turned into a multi-layered fraud attempt.

The Reality Behind the Paper

Our investigation revealed that the seller had copied legitimate documentation from a 2018 shipment and re-branded it with new names and quantities.
The “mandate” was fabricated, and the terminal letter was digitally altered.

Had the client proceeded, funds would have been sent to an offshore account controlled by an untraceable entity.
By the time the truth surfaced, both sides would have been in litigation — and the money, gone.

The Lesson

Fraud doesn’t always wear misspelled words or bad logos.
It wears precision — because precision convinces.

That’s why every document, every reference, every signature must be verified, not trusted.
It’s also why our work at Stratos Trading exists: to stop good companies from learning expensive lessons the hard way.

The Aftermath

We compiled a forensic report outlining every inconsistency, including metadata trails and source-file anomalies. The client withdrew before any funds moved.

That report now sits in a legal file — not as evidence of loss, but proof of prevention.

Sometimes, the best trade you ever make is the one you don’t.

💬 Conclusion

Every fake deal starts with a believable story.
Every real trader learns the same truth: trust without verification is just optimism in disguise.

Before you commit, pause.
Let professionals verify what confidence alone cannot.

📩 Consult Stratos Trading

At Stratos Trading, we provide forensic verification and fraud-prevention consulting that protects corporations and trading institutions from sophisticated petroleum scams.
💬 Send an email to info@stratosoil.com.my to request a sample report or schedule a consultation.

Because sometimes, saving $150 million means saying no at the right time.