Fraud: Business discussion | Christiana Jain Logistics Manager with Blofyn Pharmaceutical
I am Mrs. Christiana Jain Logistics Manager with Blofyn Pharmaceutical Inc Glasgow Scotland. Our company is in urgent need of (Zolgensma Bmax Nut) produced in India.
Complete Email
from: info <n.anafia@rfs.gov.kz>
reply-to: jainch042@gmail.com
to:
subject: Business discussion
mailed-by: rfs.gov.kz
signed-by: fs.gov.kz
Email Body
Dear Sir/Madam
Glad to reach you here at such a needed time. I hope this message finds you well.
I am Mrs. Christiana Jain Logistics Manager with Blofyn Pharmaceutical Inc Glasgow Scotland. Our company is in urgent need of (Zolgensma Bmax Nut) produced in India and it would be a huge advantage to guide and work with you in trust because of my personal interest.
Our formal purchasing manager resigned last month because of health issues, now the company’s directorate has put it upon me to recommend the dealer of this product so as to work with the new purchasing manager and the reason is because I came with the former purchasing manager to India the last time he purchased the material. So I have all needed details about the dealer which gives us huge leverage to handle this supply, maintain product originality and also the marginal profit. Let me know if we can work together in confidentiality and also drop your contact number for easy communication
Regards,
Christiana Jain
Red Flags
The email received contains multiple red flags indicating it is likely a scam or phishing attempt. Below is a detailed analysis of the problematic aspects of the email:
1. Suspicious Email Domain
- From Email Address: The email claims to be from "Blofyn Pharmaceutical Inc" in Scotland, yet the email address used (
n.anafia@rfs.gov.kz
) is from a Kazakhstani government domain (.kz). This mismatch is a major red flag because it makes no sense for a Scottish pharmaceutical company to use a Kazakhstani government email. - Reply-to Address: The reply-to email,
jainch042@gmail.com
, is a free email account (Gmail), which is unprofessional and unusual for business correspondence, especially when dealing with pharmaceutical supplies.
2. Generic and Unprofessional Content
- No Recipient Address: The email is addressed generically as "Dear Sir/Madam," which suggests that it has likely been sent to many people, another red flag for mass phishing attempts.
- Company Name Inconsistency: The company name "Blofyn Pharmaceutical Inc" does not correspond to any known or established pharmaceutical company in Glasgow, Scotland, or elsewhere, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the sender.
- No Contact Information for the Company: The email doesn’t include any official contact details, such as a phone number, address, or website for Blofyn Pharmaceutical Inc, which would normally be present in legitimate business communications.
3. Unclear and Vague Business Proposal
- Product Mention: The email mentions a product called "Zolgensma Bmax Nut," which does not seem to correspond to any known or legitimate pharmaceutical product. Zolgensma is a real gene therapy drug, but the additional terms “Bmax Nut” appear to be fabricated or unclear, likely in an attempt to confuse or lend fake credibility to the message.
- No Clear Business Details: The email is vague in terms of what exactly is expected from you. It does not clarify the role you would play or what the next steps are beyond requesting your contact number.
4. Personal Interest and Confidentiality Request
- "Personal Interest" Mention: The email indicates that the sender has a personal interest in working with you, which is highly unusual for business dealings and indicates potential fraud. Legitimate business deals are formal and transparent.
- Confidentiality Emphasis: Scammers often ask to work in "confidentiality" to avoid scrutiny and keep their fraudulent activities hidden. This is a tactic to lure victims into making decisions without verifying the legitimacy of the deal.
5. Unprofessional Language and Tone
- Grammatical Errors: The email contains awkward phrasing and grammatical issues, such as "I hope this message finds you well" and "let me know if we can work together in confidentiality." Legitimate business correspondence, particularly from a large pharmaceutical company, would not include such mistakes.
- Unclear Role of the Sender: The email claims that the sender is the "Logistics Manager," but the context of the email doesn't seem to fit this role. The emphasis on recommending a dealer is vague and suspiciously informal.
6. Potential Advance Fee Fraud
- Unsolicited Business Offer: You did not initiate this communication, and the sender is offering you a seemingly lucrative opportunity out of the blue, which is often a hallmark of advance fee fraud. In such scams, the recipient is later asked to make payments for “fees” or “customs clearance” before receiving anything in return.
Recommendations:
- Do Not Respond: Do not reply to this email or provide any personal information, especially your contact number.
- Do Not Engage in Further Communication: Scammers often escalate their attempts by asking for money or sensitive data in subsequent communications.
- Mark as Spam or Phishing: Report the email as spam or phishing in your email client to prevent similar emails from reaching your inbox.
- Delete the Email: Once reported, delete the email to avoid the risk of accidental engagement later.
- Verify if Needed: If you feel uncertain about the legitimacy of the message, independently verify the existence of Blofyn Pharmaceutical Inc or contact the relevant authorities. However, it is almost certain that this is a scam.
Conclusion:
This email contains multiple signs of being a scam or phishing attempt, including the use of mismatched email domains, vague product details, unprofessional tone, and emphasis on confidentiality. It is advisable to ignore, report, and delete this email to protect yourself from potential fraud.