Is this a scam - email from Wolf International Investment

PennyFox

I got this email today, it included my full name and address. I have no intention whatsoever of giving these guys even a penny, but I want to know if this is a scam and if so want to make others aware of this. For me, it falls into the too good to be true category, and I never take this kind of unsolicited offer seriously, but am still puzzled how they would have got my full name and address. Would appreciate all advice on this one.

Here's the email in full, but have redacted the sender's full name, address and phone number just in case this is a legit, if misguided, solicitation for money I haven't got:

Following on from successfully raising £500,000, Wolf International is current looking for another £1,000,000 to invest into its new contracting division.

In exchange for investment we are offering preference shares that will guarantee a 20% return per annum.

We are accepting investments from £1,000 on 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 month terms.

To find out more information please click here to visit our Investment Page to fill or call:

xxxx xxxx on (telephone number removed)

Click here to view our Terms & Conditions and request to purchase shares.


Contracting

When a client has a short term project or position that requires certain skills they come to Wolf International to find a contractor. Contracts are commonly either 3, 6, or 12 months in length and are paid based on a daily rate. The client will agree to pay a daily rate for this service of which 80% is paid to the contractor and 20% is retained by Wolf International.

Example:

A client makes a request for us to find them a Senior Web Developer to work on a new project that they have just won. They have a Day Rate Budget of £625 so in order to fulfil this requirement, we must find a contractor who will work for £500 per day.

We will pay the contractor for one month before invoicing the client who will then have 30 days to pay.


Insurance Backed

Every new contracting client is credit checked and assigned a credit limit. Providing this credit limit covers the cost of their contractor for a minimum of 3 months we will provide them with a contractor. As a result of this, 90% of their invoice amounts are guaranteed by an insurance company. So regardless whether the company pays for their invoice or not, we will still receive at least 90%.



Why Your Return On Your Investment Is Guaranteed

Based on the above example over a 22 day month:

The Contractor will be paid £11,000

The Client will be invoiced £13,750

The Insurance Company will Guarantee £12,375



If you have invested on a 3 month+ basis then your investment will be transferred onto another account but you will still receive your Preference Share Dividend every 3 months. As there is no middle men you pay no fee's or hidden charges and as a Preference Share Holder you only pay dividend tax as opposed to Income Tax and National Insurance on your returns.


To start earning a guaranteed 20% return per annum visit our Investment Page to fill in your details or give me a call on (telephone number removed). Alternatively Click here to view our Terms & Conditions and request to purchase shares.


Regards,

xxxx xxxx

Managing Director

tberry6686

I think you already know the answer to this.

Guarenteed 20% return and having to look further than the bank for the cash - total scam

PlutoinCapricorn

Could you be on some list? Have you invested in the past?

It may be that your details have been sold on.

PennyFox

Thanks for the quick replies! Yeah, I thought so, too, tberry6686, that seemed iffy right away.

Not done any investments under that address, PlutoinCapricorn, but given what goes on with data selling and internet marketing, I guess we're all on a list somewhere by now.

ld1978

I've just got one of these today!! Definitely looks like a scam just can't believe they have name and address (well I can believe it)

Tried their website which isn't even working

ld1978

Also did you ever used to be a contractor as mines in my maiden name and assume it's data from when I was contracting (as the email mentions contractors)

PennyFox

I'm a freelance writer and definitely not the kind of contractor these people are talking about. Besides, it's addressed to my husband, not to me, and he's never worked as a contractor. Means, though, that whoever sold our details is either a UK bank, utility or the tax office because those are the only places where we have used this particular combination of my husband's name and address and this email. Would love to know who it was!

paddyrg

There are aggregation companies who build up data from disparate clues to seem more legit. Either way, what they're talking about is 'factoring' invoices - ie paying before they get paid, and there are legit factoring companies who do this for way under 20% on a legit contract.

techno12

I got one of these emails last week.

I also got a phone call to my mobile from a similar company who were sending me some bumpf through the post because "I had signed up for info in the last 3 months". No I didn't! and I don't appreciate spam calls to my personal mobile (I only give my number to my bank/utilities and friends/family but recently I'm getting almost daily PPI etc calls to it so looks like I'm on a 'list' somewhere).

Grr

PennyFox

Thanks paddyrg, I obviously have never even heard of this, but if you say there are legit companies doing this for far less than 20%, it's a questionable promise of "guaranteed 20% profit".

techno12, I've noticed this, too, increasingly even from reputable companies. Like Ford and Honda sending me emails recently, saying I've signed up for their newsletter, which I haven't and wouldn't. But apparently sometimes if you send a query on some websites, or fill in a membership form, there are automatic scrapers that collect your email address.

Since I have to stay on top of tech marketing developments for my work, I've got to tell you that it's going to get far worse. In the States, mobile marketing has progressed to the point where you could be walking through some shopping centres and be bombarded with texts from the shops located there. Although it's still in its infancy, that kind of intrusive marketing direct to your mobile is on its way here. Not looking forward to it at all!

tylerdurden

Came to an old email address which have never given out (the postal address they had was an old one), so very worried where the got the details from.