Information Bulletin
16 September 2004
Scam mailing - Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering
Businesses in Shetland, along with others across the UK, have received mailings from the Anti-Money Laundering Support Team, Lyme House, 98 Plane Tree Drive, Crewe.
The mailing is in the form of an official looking document described as a FINAL NOTICE, and refers to The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and The Money Laundering Regulations 2003.
This FINAL NOTICE states:
Despite previous correspondence, we have still not received your reply for compliance via our anti-money laundering training compliance pack and registration scheme. Failure to comply with the procedures mentioned in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, from 1st September 2004 constitutes a criminal offence.
David Marsh, Shetland Islands Council's Trading Standards Service Manager, says:
"Our advice to businesses is that this notice has not been sent by an official government agency, and you are not obliged to send any money.
"Under the new regulations there are some obligations on business to ensure that their employees are aware of the Money Laundering regulations, and training may be appropriate in some cases.
"Anyone who has sent money should contact Trading Standards on Lerwick 744862, so that we can pass this information to our Trading Standards colleagues in Cheshire who, with the help of Cheshire Police, are currently investigating the matter."
Ends