419 scam: "Mr. Stephen A. Webster"<infor_infor@sify.com> Dear Beneficiary, Please find below your Western Union Control Info

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- barclaysghanawuniondept@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Stephen A. Webster" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:35:35 -0000
Subject: Dear Beneficiary, Please find below your Western Union Control Info

>From The Desk Of, Mr. Stephen A. Webster
International Remittance Department
Barclays Bank Ghana
Barclays House, High Street, Accra
Postal Address P.O. BOX GP 69, Accra-Ghana
Tel: + (233) (54) 0781551
Fax: + (233) (54) 3728259
Email: barclaysghanawuniondept@gmail.com

Attn.Dear Fund Beneficiary,

I hope this mail finds you in good health and in good spirit.

I am Mr. Stephen Alexander Webster a citizen of British I was transferred from the Barclays Bank Head office in London to Barclays Bank Ghana High Street branch and I was newly elected as the Director of Operations in Fund Release Dept in Barclays bank Ghana Western Union Money Transfer Services Ghana/Togo West Africa due to the huge amount of foreigners funds that is withhold in the Western Union Money Transfer Services Ghana/Togo ,So when I resumed office inside this week on my researching of foreign beneficiary fund which is abandoned in our system by the ex –Director of Operations that was in charge in Fund Release Dept in Barclays bank Ghana Western Union Money Transfer Services Ghana/Togo , I found out that your $5million US Dollar is pending here in our data base computer, that is why I have to write you urgent about your fund which I newly discovered in our system here today.

Our transfer procedures is this, I can only send you $30,000 to you, as the first M.T.C.N numbers which you suppose to received today by providing me with eight name and the maximum amount you can receive in each of the names you will provide in your country and after you received the first $30,000 M.T.C.N numbers today.

Please find below your Western Union Control Information!
Receiver:
MTCN: 411 557 6201
Amount:
Test Question: Branch?
Answer: Accra
Sender: Stephen Alexander Webster (Ghana-Lome-Togo)

Receiver:
MTCN: 553-484-5003
Amount:
Test Question: Branch?
Answer: Accra
Sender: Stephen Alexander Webster (Ghana-Lome -Togo)

Receiver:
MTCN: 655-003-7296
Amount:
Test Question: Branch?
Answer: Accra
Sender: Stephen Alexander Webster (Ghana-Lome-Togo)

Receiver:
MTCN: 694-009-6421
Amount:
Test Question: Branch?
Answer: Accra
Sender: Stephen Alexander Webster (Ghana-Lome-Togo)

Receiver:
MTCN: 594-722-0102
Amount:
Test Question: Branch?
Answer: Accra
Sender Stephen Alexander Webster (Ghana-Lome-Togo)

Receiver:
MTCN: 474-766-7675
Amount:
Test Question: Branch?
Answer: Accra
Sender: Stephen Alexander Webster (Ghana-Lome-Togo)

Receiver:
MTCN: 503-392-5407
Amount:
Test Question: Branch?
Answer: Accra
Sender: Stephen Alexander Webster (Ghana-Lome-Togo)

Receiver:
MTCN: 505-451-8028
Amount:
Test Question: Branch?
Answer: Accra
Sender: Stephen Alexander Webster (Ghana-Lome-Togo)

Attention: Due to the Fact that, these payments has long be tempered by the so called Western Union Managers/Directors you will not have instant access payout.

Not until, I have to inter-switch your payments to INSTANT PAYOUT Instead of the PENDING PAYOUT that it has been programmed on, that is why you have not been able to receive your payment.

And the inter-switching of your payments to INSTANT PAYOUT to enable you receive your already been issued above payment will cost you $199, 00 usd, which is to be sent to our Head Receiving Cashier information listed below.

Name: Mrs. Stephanie Melomey
Accra-Ghana
Test Question: Instant?
Answer: PAYOUT.
Country: Accra Ghana
Amount: $199 .00

Moreover you will have to send me eight names to fix in the M.T.C.N numbers immediately you send the fee across or I can also fix all in your name if it is okay by you. Make sure you make the deposit to this information’s I give to you for the M.T.C.N number to be available for pick up by you today, you can send it via Money Gram Services or Western Union Services, Advisably, you can wait in the Western Union outlet, Where you are going to send your payments inter-switching from so that you can as receive yours there , due to the fact that immediately the payment is received, the Inter-Switching will be effected to enable you receive your already been issued payment within 20mins right there same time okay.

So I look forward to receiving the payment details from you, You are been advise to act accordingly to the above to avoid any delay of time, Due to the fact that am on a special duty assignment, which has brought the end of your problems and worries.

N.B you are to fill out the amount you can receive in each of the order in your country in the form and also attach with this mail is my necessary identity for your perusal only.

Best Regards.

Mr. Stephen Alexander Webster.
Newly elected Director of Operations in Fund Release Dept

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam