Although we have previously published a number of warnings regarding attempts by criminals to deceive potential victims into believing that we sell our products through third parties, we are disappointed to disclose that the practice continues to be pervasive and ongoing. Whilst we continue to do our utmost to remove all fake product listings from the internet, we are still receiving regular inquiries asking us to verify the authenticity of files and other materials, all of which are forged. Such documents fraudulently utilize our name, branding, and reputation in an effort to appear authentic, despite the fact that we do not conduct business in this manner. In recent times, we have been sent wholly contrived invoices for tens of millions of tons of fuel in conjunction with doctored letterheads with falsified contact details. However, it should be noted that while this illegitimate paperwork is increasingly prevalent, there are no common factors with regard to the changes made. By way of illustration, we have seen instances whereby our official web address has not been amended, and others where it has been altered to a fictitious site with a similar domain name. We have also registered numerous cases in which telephone numbers and email addresses have been tampered with, primarily to ensure all communications are redirected to the felons and their accomplices. Thus, we ask the recipients of such messages to exercise caution before transmitting money or submitting sensitive data to these nefarious groups.
We can also once again reiterate that under no circumstances do we authorize intermediaries to advertise or sell our products on our behalf, and we have no intention of allowing these practices in the near or distant future. Prospective customers should always be wary of those who introduce themselves as a supposed “mandate” or “agent” of our organization, as such job titles do not exist within our company or the wider industry. Such scammers routinely claim to be capable of presenting formal offers to buyers, or extending discounts when certain quantities are purchased, when in fact such individuals do not possess this authority. Due to this prevailing risk, we maintain the capacity to verify anyone who claims to be associated with Rusneftegaz, and recommend that all those who hold suspicions contact us at their earliest convenience. We also strongly advise all potential crude or refined petroleum purchasers to do so via a recognized, regulated commodities exchange. Over the past two decades, we have recorded the majority of our sales through this medium, and we expect this practice to endure for many years to come. This is principally because arranging a settlement in such a manner ultimately guarantees that the goods are delivered to the specification required, while simultaneously mitigating opportunities for abuse to arise.
All parties involved should be especially skeptical if there are apparent discrepancies with corporate identification numbers, bank account details, or the designated recipient of funds. Nonetheless, all those with misgivings regarding the legitimacy of someone claiming to represent us, or the contents of any files or messages from said sender, should communicate their concerns to our fraud prevention officer as soon as possible. This is particularly acute when a commercial offer has been received and a monetary transfer may occur imminently. While we do our utmost to prevent these offenses from ever occurring, we are heavily reliant upon the vigilance and tenacity of victims to report these schemes before the possibility of significant financial losses arises. Although it is crucial that we are informed of all such infractions perpetuated in our name, it is perhaps even more critical that the relevant law enforcement authorities are alerted at the same time. We uphold a robust working relationship with all the major local and national agencies in the Russian Federation to ensure that this type of law-breaking is reduced in the future. In spite of the fact that such deceptions are rare, it remains a recurring threat to all those who trade in this sector. If anyone reading this bulletin has been a victim of any crime described in this article committed in the name of our entity, we urge you to contact us immediately to commence an investigation accordingly. We necessitate your cooperation and understanding with this pressing matter.
