Philip Barker - Advance Fee Fraud

The Commission has recently become aware of email received by members of the Public purporting to have been sent by the above named individual.

Within the emails it is claimed that the above named individual is “staff of Kleinwort Benson Private Bank, Isle of Man, United Kingdom”

The email goes on to claim that “Philip Barker” has information relating to “Thirty million United States dollars” in cash allegedly placed by the bank with a security company on behalf of a customer. It then claims that this customer has died before collecting the cash and that “Philip Barker” would like assistance in stealing it. The email claims that “Philip Barker” will give the recipient 50% of the alleged cash if they will help to obtain the money.

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

There is no Kleinwort Benson Private Bank on the Isle of Man nor has there been for many years.

Details of all licence holders of the Commission are available.

Accordingly “Philip Barker” cannot possibly be staff of Kleinwort Benson Private Bank on the Isle of Man.

There is a genuine Kleinwort Benson Private Bank in the United Kingdom. The genuine Kleinwort Benson Private Bank in the United Kingdom has a website at www.kbpb.co.uk . The Commission are satisfied that the email has not originated from the genuine Kleinwort Benson Private Bank or from any of their genuine staff.

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 

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

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 email 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 email or who have provided personal financial details in relation to the above email should consider contacting their local police fraud unit without delay.

FSC reference: JPM/40/2004