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USD 107.71 / per gram
العربية
  1. BCL
  2. RWA
  3. POP
  4. SKR
  5. DLC

POPProof of Product

Quick answer

Proof of Product (POP): Evidence the seller holds the gold, such as an assay report, vault or export documentation

Stage in the chain

Seller demonstrates the gold exists

Purpose

Evidence the seller holds the gold, such as an assay report, vault or export documentation

Scam warning

Buyers should insist on verifiable proof of product; a genuine exporter can show real assay and export papers

What is POP in a gold deal?

POP stands for Proof of Product. Evidence the seller holds the gold, such as an assay report, vault or export documentation 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 POP sits, and what it does and does not prove, is the difference between a clean transaction and an expensive mistake.

In the usual sequence, POP follows RWA (Ready, Willing and Able Letter) and leads toward SKR (Safe Keeping Receipt). It is a step, not a shortcut.

Where it sits in the deal-flow chain

Seller demonstrates the gold exists 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. POP plays its specific role in that risk allocation, and it is most often seen alongside POF, SPA. 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

    Seller demonstrates the gold exists In a real Guyana-to-Dubai gold deal, POP is one link in a longer chain, not the whole transaction.

  2. 2

    What it is meant to do

    Evidence the seller holds the gold, such as an assay report, vault or export documentation

  3. 3

    How to verify it

    Confirm POP 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 POP is in place, the deal typically moves toward SKR (Safe Keeping Receipt).

How POP works in practice

In practice, POP is issued or exchanged at a defined point and then relied on by the other party. Evidence the seller holds the gold, such as an assay report, vault or export documentation 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.

POP and how it is abused

Buyers should insist on verifiable proof of product; a genuine exporter can show real assay and export papers

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 POP stand for?

POP stands for Proof of Product. Evidence the seller holds the gold, such as an assay report, vault or export documentation

Where does POP come in a gold deal?

Seller demonstrates the gold exists

Is POP proof that a gold deal is real?

No. POP 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 POP used in scams?

Buyers should insist on verifiable proof of product; a genuine exporter can show real assay and export papers

Related instruments in the chain

Planning a gold deal?

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