I received an email claiming to be from a Contract Administrator of ExxonMobil in the United Kingdom, offering me a supposed US$12.2 million contract opportunity.
At first glance, it may sound like the kind of business opportunity anyone would be interested in.
But there were several HUGE red flags.
1. The sender's email doesn't match the company.
The email came from ......................... @ .......com dot br a Brazilian domain - while claiming to represent ExxonMobil UK.
2. The "secret contract" story - a no hush-hush thing
The sender claimed there was an "overpriced contract" worth US$12.2 million that had supposedly remained undisclosed within the organisation.
3. They proposed "re-profiling" the funds through me as the contractor. This is extremely suspicious and potentially suggests an attempt to involve the recipient in financial wrongdoing.
4. No proper procurement process.
There was no tender reference, project details, scope of work, official procurement procedure, contract number or legitimate corporate contact.
5. The message tries to create curiosity and greed.
"US$12.2 million", "undisclosed", and "mutually beneficial partnership" are precisely the kind of phrases designed to make people respond before thinking.
The email was already detected by my email system as Junk/Trash.
My advice:
- DO NOT REPLY.
- DO NOT CLICK THE LINKS.
- DO NOT PROVIDE YOUR COMPANY REGISTRATION, BANKING, IC/PASSPORT OR OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION.
- DO NOT PAY "PROCESSING", "REGISTRATION" OR "LEGAL" FEES.
And remember:
A famous company's name in an email does NOT make the email genuine.
If you receive something similar, verify the opportunity independently through the company's official website and official corporate contact channels never through the contact details provided in the suspicious email.
For business owners, consultants and contractors especially, please stay alert. Scammers know that a seemingly legitimate high-value contract can be very tempting.
When the money sounds too good and the process sounds "too secret" - stop, verify and investigate.