Scott & Hall Solicitors

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.

Scott & Hall Solicitors

Langley Court,

Douglas,

Isle of Man “419” advance fee fraud letters So called “419” letters are named after the relevant section of the Nigerian Penal Code. They are sent with the purpose of luring the recipient into becoming a victim of advance fee fraud. They have gained their colloquial name due to the prevalence of them originally emanating from Nigeria, however, they may now arrive (or appear to arrive) from many countries worldwide. Many are now sent using email, commonly originating from “web based” email accounts.

The Commission has recently received information regarding letters purporting to originate from the above entity. The letters are being delivered via the mail system and give the appearance of having been posted in the Isle of Man.

The above entity purports, within the letters, to have an address at Langley Court, Douglas, Isle of Man, British Isle, PO BOX 1IM. Enquiries carried out by the Commission have established that there is no such address in Douglas.

Scott & Hall Solicitors 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 Commission has established no association between this entity and any genuine Isle of Man companies.

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

The letters seen by the Commission give telephone and fax numbers to contact the above entity. None of the numbers given relate to lines on the Isle of Man.

“419” letters typically set out various scenarios but will commonly give some reason why the sender needs the services of the recipient in moving substantial sums of money. The precise reasons given for the existence of the money and the need for the involvement of the recipient are many and Financial Supervision Commission P.O. Box 58, Finch Hill House, Bucks Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 IDT varied.

In most instances the letter will offer a large share of the money to the recipient in payment for their services. Usually the letters will state that secrecy is absolutely essential. In reality, anyone responding to such letters will soon find themselves being required to make various payments ahead of receipt of the money.

This is the advance fee fraud. Ultimately the fraudster will disappear taking the advance fees with them.

In some instances the fraud has been perpetrated against individual victims over long periods of time and losses to the victim have run into thousands or on occasion millions of pounds.

Persons receiving letters or emails matching the above description, from wherever posted or despatched, should under no circumstances respond to them.

If you are resident within the Isle of Man and have already replied to one of these letters or, more importantly, if you have already paid any money over in respect of one, you should contact the Isle of Man Financial Crime Unit without delay by writing to:

The Officer in Charge,

Isle of Man Constabulary Financial Crime Unit,

PO Box 51,

Douglas,

Isle of Man,

IM99 2TD.

The Financial Crime Unit can be contacted by telephone on: 686000, or by email at: fcu@gov.im Persons who have responded or paid money in respect of these letters and are resident outside the Isle of Man should contact their local Police Fraud Unit without delay.