First City Merchant Bank

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.

First City Merchant Bank

The Commission has recently become aware of correspondence which purports to have been sent by the above entity.

Within the correspondence, the above entity claims to have an address of 33 High Street, Isle of Man, United Kingdom. The above entity states, interalia:

“We will like to inform you that we are in the possession of your lottery payment cheques as a result of the deposition of the payment instrument by the collaboration of the UK lottery corporation a reputable and respectable legal luminary in the United Kingdom for safe keeping (sic)”

And

“You are under oath to make a payment of £1,500 pounds urgently for the liquidation of your cheques and no more no less as we will be obligated to return this cheques to the lottery corporation within 72 banking hours as a result of failure and compliance at your end (sic)”

The aforementioned Isle of Man address claimed by the above entity is not a valid address.

The above entity 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 above entity is not licensed by us to undertake Banking or any other regulated activity in, on or from the Isle of Man.

A list of all institutions licensed by the Commission is available on our website at www.fsc.gov.im

The Commission has established no association between the above entity and any genuine Isle of Man companies.

The Commission has established no genuine links between the above entity and the Isle of Man.

Under the circumstances the Commission feels that the aforementioned correspondence is 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 strongly urge persons considering dealing with the above entity to exercise the greatest possible caution before proceeding, bearing in mind the contents of this public notice.

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

Any persons who have paid funds to the above entity should consider contacting their local Police Fraud Unit without delay.

FSC Reference: JPM/56/2006