Bogus Lottery Scam

The Commission has recently been made aware that members of the public are being contacted, either by letter, email or telephone, by a person claiming to be from Zurich Bank and advising them that they are “one of 100 winners of real big prizes”.

In order to secure entitlement to the prize, members of the public are asked to send “a monthly euro payment of €29 for a guaranteed big prize”. They are also asked for additional information such as personal details including address information, date of birth and full name.

The genuine Zurich Bank, a company incorporated in Ireland, and its wholly owned Isle of Man subsidiary, Zurich Bank International Limited, are not connected or associated to the above scenario in any way.

The genuine Zurich Bank International Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission to undertake Deposit Taking business. Details of all genuine licenceholders of the Commission are available.

Neither Zurich Bank International Limited, nor any other part of the Zurich Financial Services Group is connected or associated with any such lotteries.

Under the circumstances the Financial Supervision Commission feels that the correspondence and telephone calls are being used to tempt the recipient into becoming the victim of an Advance Fee Fraud.

OR

Are attempts 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 any correspondence or telephone calls matching the above description to refrain from responding to them in any way.

Any persons who are already involved in any dealings resulting from this correspondence or telephone calls and have concerns should contact the Enforcement Division on +44 1624 689314 or by email to fsc@gov.im.

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

FSC reference: CD/08/2010