Jonathon Russell - Advance Fee Fraud

This notice is issued by the Financial Supervision Commission (“the Commission”) in accordance with the powers conferred upon it under Section 22 of the Financial Supervision Act 1988.

Jonathon Russell

Advance Fee Fraud

On 22nd September 2005 the Commission issued a Public Notice regarding the above-named individual. The text of that Public Notice is reproduced below. The Commission has recently become aware of further emails purporting to have been sent by Jonathon Russell. These new emails are identical to the earlier ones with the sole exception that they now no longer include a false Isle of Man address and that now the sender claims to “work with one of the leading private and offshore banks in the Isle of Man”.

In view of the striking similarity with the earlier emails the Commission wishes to state that our view of these subsequent emails is identical to that previously expressed. We suspect that the sender has merely removed any detail in order to escape the specific statements that were made by us.

Under the circumstances the Commission still feels that these emails are being issued to either tempt the recipient into becoming the victim of an Advance Fee Fraud (see explanatory notice issued by the Commission at:

http://www.iomfsa.im/ViewNews.gov?page=lib/news/iomfsa/westafricanfraud.xml&menuid=11570)

or are an attempt at gaining personal data from the recipient in order to steal their identity (see explanatory notice issued by the Commission at:

http://www.iomfsa.im/ViewNews.gov?page=lib/news/iomfsa/identitytheft.xml&menuid=11570)

Under the circumstances the Commission would encourage people receiving emails matching the above description to refrain from responding to them in any way.

Any persons who are already involved in any dealings resulting from the above emails and have concerns should contact the Enforcement Division on +44 1624 689313 or by email to fsc@gov.im .

Any persons who have paid out funds in relation to the above emails or who have provided personal financial details in relation to the above emails should consider contacting their local police fraud unit without delay

Text of original Public Notice issued on 22nd September 2005

The Commission has recently been made aware of emails purporting to have been sent by the above named individual.

Within the emails, the above named individual claims to be employed by or associated with “Anglo Irish Bank, Jubilee Buildings, Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2SH”

The emails claim that a “Youssef Genidy George” was a customer of the above bank and died in an air crash. They go on to allege that this man left millions of dollars in an account with the bank and that unless someone makes a claim to it, it will be forfeited.

The emails seek the assistance of the recipient to “stand in as the beneficiary of the deposited funds” in order to release the alleged funds.

The Commission wishes to draw attention to the following observations regarding the aforementioned emails:

There is a genuine holder of an Isle of Man Banking License called Anglo Irish Bank Corporation (I.O.M.) P.L.C. (commonly known as Anglo Irish Bank). Details of all licence holders of the Commission are available on our website www.fsc.gov.im

There is no person by the name of Jonathon Russell now or formerly employed by the genuine Anglo Irish Bank Corporation (I.O.M.) P.L.C.

Under the circumstances the Commission feels that these emails are being issued to either tempt the recipient into becoming the victim of an Advance Fee Fraud (see explanatory notice issued by the Commission at:

http://www.iomfsa.im/ViewNews.gov?page=lib/news/iomfsa/westafricanfraud.xml&menuid=11570)

or are an attempt at gaining personal data from the recipient in order to steal their identity (see explanatory notice issued by the Commission at:

http://www.iomfsa.im/ViewNews.gov?page=lib/news/iomfsa/identitytheft.xml&menuid=11570)

Under the circumstances the Commission would encourage people receiving emails matching the above description to refrain from responding to them in any way.

Any persons who are already involved in any dealings resulting from the above emails and have concerns should contact the Enforcement Division on +44 1624 689313 or by email to fsc@gov.im .

Any persons who have paid out funds in relation to the above emails or who have provided personal financial details in relation to the above emails should consider contacting their local police fraud unit without delay.

FSC reference: JPM/27/2005