419 scam: "Garry Stephens" <gstephens@yahoo.com> OFFICIAL MEMO FROM HALIFAX BANK.

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447077076038 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Garry Stephens" <gstephens@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: garrystephens@onet.pl
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2018 04:50:58 -0700
Subject: OFFICIAL MEMO FROM HALIFAX BANK.

FROM THE DESK OF GARRY STEPHENS
HALIFAX BANK PLC
135 HIGH STREET PENGE,
LONDON. SE20 7DS.

TEL: +44-707-707-6038
TEL: +44-707-707-5398
FAX: +44-700-593-1479

Our Ref: HALIFAX-0XX2/482/018

PAYMENT NOTIFICATION FROM HSBC BANK

We wish to bring to your notice about the due process of your outstanding payment which was suspended by the management of this Bank by stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your contract/inheritance fund to your nominated bank account.

During the auditing of all financial records in our Bank (Halifax), it was discovered from the records of outstanding payment with our Bank that, your name is next on the list of those who will receive their fund.

As a result of this development, verification conducted by credit department in conjunction with the Debt Verification Panel on your fund, your file has been
endorsed for immediate payment awaiting your confirmations.

Meanwhile, three men came to my office yesterday with a letter, claiming to be your representative. They were two AMERICANS and a BRITISH BARRISTER and they
introduced themselves as Mr.William Leroy Yerrick and Mr.Wesley Kerr and the Barrister's name Charles Beck i ask them to come back for the transfer next week so we can reach you for confirmation before effecting the transfer to the provided Bank account.

Below is the information they presented to my office:

BANK NAME: BANK OF AMERICA
BENEFICIARY OF THE ACCOUNT: MR.WILLIAM LEROY YERRICK AS INSTRUCTED IN THE LETTER FROM YOU.
BANK ACCOUNT: 898046041031
ROUTING NUMBER: 063000047

As the Foreign Remittance Director of this Noble Bank, I was supposed to Release your Fund to them but I refused to do so because I wanted to hear from you first. Due to the Nature of my job, I would not want to make any mistake in releasing your Fund to anyone except you whom is the Recognized Bonafide Beneficiary to these Fund or if you ask us to do so?.

Please we would like you to confirm to this office immediately if these men are truly from you or not, so that our Bank will not be held responsible for
paying into wrong account. You are also requested to fill and forward the information below for verification purposes so that your fund valued U.S$9.5million dollars will be remitted into your nominated bank account.

(1)Your Full Name And Address:......
(2) Your Occupation:................
(3) Your Telephone Number:..........
(4). Your Nationality:..............
(5) Your Bank Details...............

As soon as we receive the above requested information, we will proceed with the process of remitting your fund into your bank account.

We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you. We are waiting for your urgent response in regards to this
notification.

Yours Faithfully,
Garry Stephens

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam