Users of Manx Telecom’s Manxnet email system have been receiving scam messages asking for personal details.
The email which is branded with the MT logo and Isle of Man address is a convincing piece of correspondence, however the link takes users to a scam address.
Manx Telecom say they are aware of the emails and urge people not to click on the links.
Phishing scams and other online schemes are prevalent with major brands such as Royal Mail, DHL, FedEx and others being imitated as scammers try to trick people in to passing over personal details online.
Last month Energy FM was also imitated by scammers who contacted people saying they had won a prize in an on air promotion.
The promotion itself was genuine and had been featured on the radio station’s website and on air, however the scammers had copied the information and contacted Facebook users who had engaged with the radio station’s official post.
The scammers were asking people to send money to ‘release the prize’. Energy FM warned listeners to always check direct with the station if they have won a prize.
Facebook Buy/Sell Scam
In September last year Isle of Man residents were also conned out of money on a Facebook Buy/Sell page. A scammer claimed to be selling items from an address in Peel including a trampoline, a fridge and a ride on mower. They asked for deposits to ‘reserve’ the item. It was of course a con.
The people at the address in Peel actually had people knocking on the door asking for the goods.
Energy FM investigated the scammer and traced the bank account to Starling Bank. Despite contacting the bank and reporting the fraud, Starling were unable to reverse the transaction. The investigation was reported to authorities yet even with all the KYC requirements, this scammer was permitted to operate a UK bank account.
The exact same advert for the same goods appeared on Facebook pages in the Cayman Islands and also the Caribbean.
Isle of Man Bank refused to help
In the UK, those paying money to scammers online, can claim under a scheme to have money returned by their bank, however Isle of Man Bank refused to refund the £200 that one Manx resident had sent having fallen victim to the scam.
At first the bank fobbed off the customer completely, despite being given the bank details of the recipient. The consumer protection in the Isle of Man is not as robust as the UK with Isle of Man residents being more vulnerable to losing their money.
Office of Cyber Security
The Isle of Man Government have a dedicated Department dealing with cyber crime. The Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance website can be found here and offers advice for people over all aspects of cyber security and staying safe online.
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