Bogus e-mail address - zurichinternational.bankltd@yahoo.co.uk

Published on: 02 October 2007

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.

Bogus e-mail address: zurichinternational.bankltd@yahoo.co.uk

Advance Fee Fraud

The Commission has become aware of e-mails purporting to come from the e-mail address: zurichinternational.bankltd@yahoo.co.uk. The e-mail correspondence claims to be from the "Transfer and Remittance Department, Zurich Bank International Ltd, Switzerland" and that the recipients of the e-mail have a claim on US$400,000 which emanated from the Australian Lottery Inc.

The Commission wishes to draw attention to the following observations regarding the aforementioned e-mails:

There is a genuine entity by the name of Zurich Bank International Ltd operating from the Isle of Man. Zurich Bank International Ltd is licensed by the Commission to undertake banking business.

A list of all institutions licensed by the Commission is available on our website.

The genuine Zurich Bank International Ltd is not in any way connected to the fraudulent e-mails purporting to have been sent by zurichinternational.bankltd@yahoo.co.uk.

Under the circumstances, the Commission feels that these e-mails are being issued to either tempt the recipient into becoming the victim of a so called "Lottery Scam" – a useful explanation of how such "Lottery Scams" work.

Are being issued to tempt the recipient into becoming the victim of an Advance Fee Fraud.

Are 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 e-mails matching the above description to refrain from responding to them in any way.

Any persons who are already involved in any dealings resulting from e-mails matching the above description and have concerns should contact the Enforcement Division on +44 1624 689314 or by e-mail to fsc@gov.im.

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

FSC Reference: CD/17/2007