Bogus Employment Offers - Sheraton Hotels Isle of Man UK

The Commission has recently become aware of correspondence received by members of the public purporting to have been sent by a “Mr Andrew Peterson - Human Resources Manager” claiming to represent the Sheraton Hotel Isle of Man UK which, it is claimed in the correspondence, has a presence at 37 – 44 Loch Promenade, Douglas IM1 2LY, Isle of Man, United Kingdom. The correspondence also includes a reference to Starwood Hotels Incorperated (sic) although the meaning of this reference is unknown to us.

Within the correspondence it is claimed that the recipient has been offered employment by the purported Sheraton Hotel Isle of Man UK. They are asked to complete an “Application for United Kingdom Entry Permit/Visa” which appears to be some attempt at duplicating an official document and are asked to pay an advance fee for processing the application. In relation to this bogus form recipients have been asked to contact a purported “Director visa/ permits: Mr Dennis Bent” of a purported “UK Travels Agency (sic), 53, Strand Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, United Kingdom IM1 2RJ”

There are genuine premises situated at 37 – 44, Loch Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man, however none of those premises are genuinely occupied by a Sheraton Hotels Isle of Man UK or by a Starwood Hotels Incorperated (sic). The genuine occupants of those premises are not in any way associated or connected with a Sheraton Hotels Isle of Man UK, a Starwood Hotels Incorperated (sic) or with the aforementioned correspondence.

There are genuine premises situated at 53, Strand Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2RJ and there is a genuine Travel Agent occupying that address, however, the genuine occupants of those premises are not in any way associated or connected with any entity called UK Travels Agency (sic), any individual called Mr Dennis Bent or with the aforementioned correspondence.

Sheraton Hotels Isle of Man UK, Starwood Hotels Incorperated (sic) and UK Travels Agency (sic) are not companies incorporated in the Isle of Man, they are not registered business names in the Isle of Man and are not registered as companies incorporated elsewhere having established a place of business in the Isle of Man. The Commission has been unable to establish any genuine presence on the Isle of Man of Sheraton Hotels Isle of UK, Starwood Hotels Incorperated (sic) or UK Travels Agency (sic).

Under the circumstances the Financial Supervision Commission feels that this correspondence is being issued to tempt the recipient into becoming the victim of an Advance Fee Fraud.

OR Is an attempt at gaining personal data from the recipient in order to steal their identity.

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

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

Any persons who are already involved in any dealings resulting from the aforementioned correspondence and who 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 aforementioned correspondence or who have provided personal financial details in relation to the aforementioned correspondence should consider contacting their local police fraud unit without delay.

FSC reference: JPM/5/2009