Greenwood Warren - Advance Fee Fraud

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

Within the emails, the above named individual claims to be employed as “Chairman, Audit Committee” with “HSBC Bank PLC, Douglas, Isle of Man”

The emails ask the recipient whether they “have any relative/relation sharing their surname and whose last known contact address was Prospect Hill, Douglas, Isle of Man“ They go on to state that this person, who is not actually named, left “an investment of considerable value” with the bank and seek that the recipient of the emails act as a “successor in title to the deceased” in order to claim the investment, before it reverts “to ownership of government”. The emails ask that the recipient forward various personal details to the sender.

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

There is a genuine holder of an Isle of Man Banking License called HSBC Bank PLC with offices in Douglas, Isle of Man. Details of all licence holders of the Commission are available on our website.

There is no person by the name of Greenwood Warren now or formerly employed by the genuine HSBC Bank PLC on the Isle of Man as “Chairman, Audit Committee” or in any other role.

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

FSC reference: JPM/26/2005