Lets examine one of the most basic redflags which is common sense, really:
Why would anyone claiming to represent an oil major, NOC, IOC or global trading company communicate from a public mailbox such as Yandex, Yahoo, Mail.ru, AOL etc?
Seriously, someone genuinely from a Shell or BP or Trafigura or Vitol is going to 'close a delivery' for a buy/sell of an actual cargo worth millions of dollars via such channels?
Did it ever occur to you that such communication should always be via their official email domain, if it is indeed who they claim they are?
And if further in doubt, double-checking with the real @vitol.com or the real @shell.com should be an easy next step that comes to mind.
Simple DIY due diligence and homework that could identify a fraudster from the real deal and save you from time-wasting yet many do not practice it. God knows why.
Policing fraudulent physical petroleum transactions across the globe, they are all over the net.
