Michael Webber - 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 certain emails, which are headed “Your swift response awaited” it is claimed that the above named individual is writing on behalf of or is in some way associated with the entity AIB Bank Plc at the address PO Box 186, 10 Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1M99 1QE.

These emails claim to have discovered an “abandoned sum of US$20,000,000 (Twenty Million Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family in a fatal road accident”.

These emails seek the assistance of the recipient in obtaining these alleged funds. They state “…we now seek your permission to have you stand as a next-of-kin to the deceased…for the funds (US$20,000,000) to be released in your favour as the beneficiary’s next-of-kin.”

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

The entity, AIB Bank PLC, 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.

There is a genuine holder of an Isle of Man Banking Licence called AIB Bank (CI) Limited which operates from the aforementioned address. Details of all licenceholders of the Commission are available on our website.

Enquiries by the Commission have established that there is no Michael Webber employed by the genuine AIB Bank (CI) Limited, any of its predecessors or associated entities or otherwise associated with the aforementioned Isle of Man address.

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 emails matching the above description and have concerns should contact the Enforcement Division on +44 1624 689315 or by email to fsc@gov.im .

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

FSC reference: KL/09/2006