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E-MAIL INVESTMENT SCAM HITS HIGHLANDS - "Here We Go Again"
Highland consumers are being alerted to the latest African "investment" scam to hit the area via e-mail. Trading Standards are advising recipients that these e-mails are not genuine, and are designed to dupe people into becoming involved in an international scam.
Head of Trading Standards, Nigel MacKenzie explained: "This is a relatively new way of enticing people into a familiar fraud. The e-mails stick to a common style, with a long convoluted account setting out the background to the proposal."

The latest versions involve a Director of the National Bank of Malawi who "discovered" $23 million US dollars in the account of a deceased person who died in a plane crash. The other version circulating, is sent by a Personal Assistant of the late President of Congo, who was assassinated. Again a vast amount of money is involved that has been "left" in an account in the name of the e-mail sender. He now wishes to invest it outwith Africa."

A common theme runs through all these types of propositions:
* Invariably there is a connection with Africa in the investment proposals.
* There is an unfortunate tale offered as an explanation for the person acquiring this money.
* The sender is also very complimentary towards the recipient integrity as a means of "winning them 
   over"
* The investment always claims to be "risk free".
* A share is offered to the recipient, around 20-30%, designed to tempt   individuals into becoming 
   involved.

On this occasion, however, unlike before, recipients are not asked to send money but give personal information regarding their bank details, telephone number, workplace. By offering this information to other individuals that person may be authorising the withdrawal of money from their account. They subsequently have no control as to the amount that is withdrawn or the purpose for which it is used, which may involve further fraudulent activity.

Nigel MacKenzie went on to say: "In reality, there is nothing to gain from becoming involved in such a scheme. Anyone who receives one of these e-mails should stop and think about what they are actually being asked for and what they are involving themselves in. The e-mails, like the letters previously, are cleverly worded so as to give very little detail but cloud the proposal with irrelevant information.

"People need to ask themselves what exactly is this telling me about the investment? Having read the material do I really know anymore? Do I actually know who I am dealing with?

"Individuals are being asked to give personal information to a complete stranger, with no real means of contacting them."

Details of such fraudulent activities are collated locally through the Northern Constabulary who can then pass this information on to the relevant authorities.

Anyone that receives these e-mails should contact the Highland Council Consumer
Advice Line on 0845 600 4222.