Michael Goodwood - 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.

Michael Goodwood

Advance Fee Fraud

On 4th November 2005, the Commission issued a Public Notice in relation to, inter alia, emails purporting to originate from the above named. In that earlier Notice the Commission noted that the above named was falsely claiming to be employed by HSBC Bank PLC, a genuine bank regulated by the Commission. The earlier Notice may be read on the following link:

http://www.iomfsa.im/ViewNews.gov?page=lib/news/iomfsa/advancefeefraud.xml.

Subsequent to 4th November 2005 the Commission have been made aware of further emails purporting to have been sent by the above named. Now, however, Michael Goodwood claims to be employed as “Group Head Audit Committee” with “Financial Trust Group”.

Like the earlier emails, the more recent emails state that the sender is aware of a very large deposit, said to consist of many millions of Euros , allegedly held by their employers, the owner of which has purportedly died in an accident. The emails seek the assistance of the recipient in posing as next of kin to the purported owner in order to have the funds transferred from the sender’s employer. The emails offer the recipient a percentage of the funds in return for so acting.

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

Financial Trust Group is not a company incorporated within the jurisdiction of the Isle of Man. It is not registered as a foreign company having established a place of business on the Isle of Man. It is not registered as a business name on the Isle of Man.

The recent emails give an address for the sender of Ridgeway Street IM99 1BU Ramsey Isle of Man and a Tel/Fax number of 0044-870-133-4013. The Commission notes that there is no Ridgeway Street in Ramsey, Isle of Man, the postcode IM99 1BU would not relate to an address in Ramsey, Isle of Man and the Tel/Fax number quoted is not a valid Isle of Man telephone or fax number.

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/36/2005