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USD 107.71 / per gram
العربية
  1. SBLC
  2. MT760
  3. MT799
  4. 2% PB
  5. MT103

MT799SWIFT MT799 (Free-Format Message)

Quick answer

SWIFT MT799 (Free-Format Message) (MT799): A free-format bank-to-bank message often used as proof of funds or readiness before a credit is opened

Stage in the chain

Pre-advice or proof-of-funds message between banks

Purpose

A free-format bank-to-bank message often used as proof of funds or readiness before a credit is opened

Scam warning

An MT799 is only a message, not payment; demanding one before verifying the counterparty invites abuse

What is MT799 in a gold deal?

MT799 stands for SWIFT MT799 (Free-Format Message). A free-format bank-to-bank message often used as proof of funds or readiness before a credit is opened It is one of the instruments buyers, sellers and brokers exchange when structuring a physical gold transaction, and it is searched for on its own precisely because so few legitimate origin exporters explain it in context.

Guyana Gold Mines publishes this page as part of a complete, plain-language map of the deal-flow chain, from the first soft corporate offer through to final settlement by wire. Understanding where MT799 sits, and what it does and does not prove, is the difference between a clean transaction and an expensive mistake.

In the usual sequence, MT799 follows MT760 (SWIFT MT760 (Guarantee / Standby Credit)) and leads toward 2% PB (Performance Bond). It is a step, not a shortcut.

Where it sits in the deal-flow chain

Pre-advice or proof-of-funds message between banks The chain runs, in broad terms, from the soft and full corporate offers, through the buyer's letter of intent or purchase order, the non-circumvention and fee-protection agreements that protect brokers, the sale and purchase agreement, the proof of funds and product, the payment security such as a documentary or standby letter of credit, and finally settlement by MT103 wire once the gold is delivered and assayed.

Every step exists to reduce risk for one side or the other. MT799 plays its specific role in that risk allocation, and it is most often seen alongside POF, MT700, MT103. Treating it in isolation, or accepting it as proof that a deal is real, is how buyers and sellers get drawn into fraud.

Verification

How to handle this step

  1. 1

    Where it appears

    Pre-advice or proof-of-funds message between banks In a real Guyana-to-Dubai gold deal, MT799 is one link in a longer chain, not the whole transaction.

  2. 2

    What it is meant to do

    A free-format bank-to-bank message often used as proof of funds or readiness before a credit is opened

  3. 3

    How to verify it

    Confirm MT799 independently: check the issuing party, and where a bank message or instrument is involved, verify it bank-to-bank rather than trusting an emailed copy.

  4. 4

    What happens next

    Once MT799 is in place, the deal typically moves toward 2% PB (Performance Bond).

How MT799 works in practice

In practice, MT799 is issued or exchanged at a defined point and then relied on by the other party. A free-format bank-to-bank message often used as proof of funds or readiness before a credit is opened What it is worth depends entirely on who stands behind it and whether it can be verified through a trustworthy channel.

For physical gold specifically, the golden rule is that documents and messages are never a substitute for seeing and assaying the metal. A genuine Guyana-origin transaction is built around inspection and assay in Dubai, with settlement calculated on the confirmed content. Any structure that inverts that order, asking for value to move before the gold is verified, deserves close scrutiny.

MT799 and how it is abused

An MT799 is only a message, not payment; demanding one before verifying the counterparty invites abuse

The gold trade attracts advance-fee fraud, fake safe-keeping receipts, leased-instrument offers and fantasy discounts to spot. Fraudsters lean on official-sounding terms and template documents to rush a counterparty into paying a fee or releasing value early. The defence is simple and consistent: verify independently, never pay large sums before inspection, and walk away from any deal that depends on urgency and secrecy.

Safety

Genuine versus scam

Signals of a genuine procedure

  • Instruments and messages verified bank-to-bank, not by emailed copy
  • Inspection and assay before any large payment moves
  • Realistic pricing tied to the LBMA spot
  • A clear, written sequence with no pressure or secrecy

Red flags to walk away from

  • Demands to issue instruments or pay fees before inspection
  • Deep, unexplained discounts to the spot price
  • Reliance on urgency, secrecy and template paperwork
  • Counterparties that cannot be verified independently

How we handle payment and settlement

Guyana Gold Mines sells on payment-after-assay terms. You inspect and assay the gold in Dubai, and settlement follows on the confirmed content, commonly within twenty-four to seventy-two hours of inspection. For larger, ongoing programmes, payment can be structured around a documentary letter of credit or a standby instrument issued bank-to-bank, with final settlement by MT103.

Because our model is built on verified metal rather than advance payment, we have no reason to pressure a buyer into posting fees or instruments before the gold is seen. If you are evaluating an offer that does, this page and the wider payment-terms guide are here to help you tell the difference.

Frequently asked questions

What does MT799 stand for?

MT799 stands for SWIFT MT799 (Free-Format Message). A free-format bank-to-bank message often used as proof of funds or readiness before a credit is opened

Where does MT799 come in a gold deal?

Pre-advice or proof-of-funds message between banks

Is MT799 proof that a gold deal is real?

No. MT799 is one step in the chain. It should be verified independently, and it is never a substitute for inspecting and assaying the gold before payment.

How is MT799 used in scams?

An MT799 is only a message, not payment; demanding one before verifying the counterparty invites abuse

Related instruments in the chain

Planning a gold deal?

We sell on payment-after-assay terms, no advance payments. Talk to our trade desk.