· Tank Storage Check
Tank farm scam red flags: a practical verification brief
Clone websites, altered agreements and unverifiable certificates can create a credible-looking trade. Use the offer as a starting point for verification—not as proof.
The persuasion chain can look operationally complete
A BlackSea Trading overview of Rotterdam tank-farm scams describes a recurring pattern: a copied terminal identity, a similar email domain, polished storage paperwork, certificate claims and pressure to pay a reservation or approval fee. Individual pieces can look plausible while the underlying transaction is not real.
Red flags worth escalating
Useful triggers include a terminal that cannot confirm the arrangement directly, a newly created or lookalike domain, vague tank references, certificates that cannot be validated with their issuer, unexplained broker chains and a deadline designed to bypass normal controls. None is conclusive alone; together they warrant a deeper review.
Make the check auditable
Record the source, method and result of every confirmation. Reconcile the terminal, product, capacity, counterparty and dates across the offer, agreement and inspection documents. A clear evidence trail lets a transaction team decide whether to proceed, renegotiate or walk away—and explains why.