Advance Fee Fraud - Margaret Moore, Michael Ferrell / Michael Ferrar, Sophie Barnes

This notice is issued by the Financial Supervision Commission (“the Commission”) in accordance with the powers conferred upon it under Section 30 of the FinancialServices Act 2008.

The Commission has recently become aware of documents purporting to have been sent by the above named individuals.

These documents claim to be sent from a “Margaret Moore, (Bank Manager)” or a “Michael Ferrell, Foreign Operational Manager” (sometimes shown as Michael Ferrar) at “HSBC Bank International” with an address of “Po Box 45, HSBC House, Ridgeway St, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM17 1BY” (sic). Also, one document purports to be sent by a “Sophie Barnes, International Accounts Director” and claims to be from “HSBC Bank PLC”.

The documents give a telephone number for the sender of 01144-870073444 and a fax number of 01144-2083287220. These are not Isle of Man telephone / fax numbers.

In the correspondence seen by the Commission it states: “We are pleased to inform you that your total sum of US$3,800,000.00 THREE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS will now be credited into your offshore bank account”

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

There are genuine holders of Isle of Man Banking licences for HSBC Bank International Limited and HSBC Bank PLC which use the address HSBC House, Ridgeway Street, Douglas, Isle of Man. However, both the PO Box number, 45, and the Postcode, IM17 1BT, used within these documents are not correct for this address.

The Commission has established that the aforementioned documents do not originate from, nor were they issued with the consent or knowledge of these genuine entities. Neither the genuine HSBC Bank International Limited nor the genuine HSBC Bank PLC are in any way connected to these fraudulent documents.

Enquiries by the Commission have established that there are no persons, now or formerly, employed in the Isle of Man by these genuine entities, HSBC Bank International Limited and HSBC Bank PLC, by the names of Margaret Moore, Michael Ferrar, Michael Ferrell or Sophie Barnes.

For reference purposes some of the documentation seen by the Commission, albeit mentions HSBC in the main heading of the documentation, also mentions other genuine unrelated banks, within the body of the documents. The Commission has established that these documents do not originate from, nor were they issued with the consent or knowledge of these other genuine banks. The Commission can also confirm that none of these genuine banks are in away connected to these fraudulent documents.

Details of all licenceholders of the Commission are available on our website fsc.gov.im .

Under the circumstances the Financial Supervision Commission feels that these documents are being issued to 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)

Also see information issued by the Isle of Man Office of the Data Protection Supervisor at:

http://www.gov.im/lib/news/odps/yourinformationy.xml

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

Any persons who are already involved in any dealings resulting from these documents matching the above description and have concerns should contract the Enforcement Division on +44 1624 689314 or by e-mail to fsc@gov.im.

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

For the avoidance of doubt any persons who have concerns as to whether they are dealing with the genuine HSBC Bank International Limited or the genuine HSBC Bank PLC can contact the genuine banks via their websites at: http://www.offshore.hsbc.com and http://hsbc.co.uk .

FSC reference: CD/30/2008