Strategic Partnershop Scam
A Phishing scam targeting businesses, ones that might not do the due diligence that is needed before responding to any "out of the blue" approaches...
E-Mails received:
Date: 10/11/2025, 14:50
From: Nick Gangestad sleblancPsMMq@nextgenerationvt.com
To: [Name and E-Mail address redacted]
Reply To: nick.gangestad01@rockswellautomation.com
Subject: Exploring a Strategic Partnership with Rockwell Automation
?Ghost??:
Dear Mf3 Executive Leadership,
I hope this message finds you well.
At Rockwell Automation, expanding our strategic ecosystem through long-term partnerships with innovative organizations remains a core priority.
Following Mf3's steady growth and work in the industry, we believe there is a strong rationale to explore how our organizations might collaborate. Our goal is to evaluate potential avenues for co-innovation, joint initiatives, or strategic investment that accelerate mutual growth.
I would appreciate the opportunity to schedule a brief 10–15 minute call to learn more about your current roadmap and outline potential synergies. If this inquiry is better directed to another leader on your corporate development team, kindly let me know or forward this note.
Thank you for your consideration.
Warm regards,
Best regards,
Nick Gangestad
Chief Financial Officer
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
www.rockwellautomation.com
Notes: "Red flags" The sender email address has no domain name associated with the domain. The email is personally addressed to us, it is not a blind cc "mass mailing" however the email "script" is likely used for innumerable emails being sent out. The Reply to email address is nick.gangestad01@rockswellautomation.com. An internet search shows that whilst Nick Gangestad was a chief officer at Rockwell Automation he retired from that position some time ago also his email address is at rockswellautomation.com (note rocks with a s in rocks whilst the actual company domain is rockwellautomation.com (no s after the letter k)... it is an email address pretending to be a genuine company address.
Now we will get to the content of the email... grandiose greeting "Mf3 Executive Leadership", what are the Ghost and symbols about? aparently Mf3 we are an "innovative organization" and has had "steady growth and work in the industry". They would like to discuss "our current roadmap and outline potential synergies" or alternatively discuss it with "another leader on your corporate development team".
What is the purpose?
Lure us into developing some business relationship which would result in us being defrauded. I am quite busy at the moment or I might have played along with them for a while, so I will just ignore them.
Recommendation:
Just delete the e-mail, don't click on any links.
More examples:
Michael Fowler
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