419 scam: "MR. CHARLES W. SCHARF" <markwegener05@gmail.com> Wishes to officially inform you today form Wells Fargo 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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "cost of transfer" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge amount of money" (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 united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- stefangilpatrickxbi17@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. CHARLES W. SCHARF" <markwegener05@gmail.com>
Reply-To: stefangilpatrickxbi17@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2022 11:16:15 -1000
Subject: Wishes to officially inform you today form Wells Fargo Bank

Wells Fargo Bank HeadQuarters
Address: 420 Montgomery St San Francisco, CA 94104, USA

The Board of Governors of the Wells Fargo Bank wishes to officially
inform you today that your outstanding Inheritance funds valued a
total sum of Eight Million United States Dollars, (US$8,000,000.00) in
Fig. which was officially handed over to the Wells Fargo Bank San
Francisco, CA 94104, USA in your name on today of April 2021 has been
legally approved and Signed by the United States Department of State
in the present of the Wells Fargo Bank's attorney following
the payment approvals signed by the President Pro Tempore of the
United States Senate "Mr. Chuck Grassley".

Therefore, through the instructions from the above-mentioned
authorities, we have been authorized to transfer your $8,000,000.00
(Fig.) to your bank account.
Your US$8,000,000.00 (Fig.) transfer Permit letter has been forwarded
to the Vice President of the United States of America Mrs. Kamala
Harris, Washington DC final endorsement and this is because to
transfer such huge amount of money we
really have to notify every office that is concerned just to avoid any
problem when transferring the money into your bank account and we have
successfully obtained some of the Fund Payment Approval Papers needed.

The remaining files needed for your fund's transmission from the Wells
Fargo Bank to your Bank account must be legally secured and mailed to
you for proofs and file keeping before we can proceed to the
remittance stage and we are sending our Delegates to proceed with
securing the remaining needed documents in your name with immediate
effect.

Finally, you have been mandated to pay a total sum of Two Hundred and
Seventy-Six Dollar, Ninety Eight Cent (US$276.98) as the Mandatory
endorsement fee which includes, Local and Federal Taxes and Cost of
Transfer as requested by the Department of State in accordance with
the stipulations and foreign transfer act which was also approved by
the Vice President of the
United States "Kamala Harris".

We are waiting for your immediate response with the payment
information to enable us to proceed with the transfer of your
(US$8,000,000.00) as we were directed by the mentioned authorities.

Thank you for your understanding and, please, be safe.

Yours in Service,
MR. CHARLES W. SCHARF.
Email: stefangilpatrickxbi17@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam