419 scam: "Christopher A. Wray" <jamesluisa33@gmail.com> Attention;

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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:
- "transfer cost" (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. )
- "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)
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Christopher A. Wray" <jamesluisa33@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wraychristopher166@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2022 11:26:22 -0800
Subject: Attention;

Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services of FBI.

Dear beneficiary of Thirty Eight Million 38, 000, 000.00 United States
Dollars. I'm writing you this email based on a report we got from the
Wells Fargo Bank California branch regarding a total sum of
$38.000.000.00 Funds which is deposited into the Wells Fargo Bank to
be paid to you.
In the email we received from the Bank, it states that if you have
failed to claim the funds.
The CEO of Wells Fargo Bank Mr. Charles W. Scarf made this report to
us so that we shouldn't accuse him or the Bank of embezzlement or
related cases when your funds will be seized.
The $38.000.000.00 was verified and it is legally approved on your
name, all you have to do is to resubmit your full details including
your Bank Information and contact the bank today or tomorrow for your
payment immediately and please inform us as soon as you receive the
outstanding payment of $38.000.000.00. The US Federal Bureau of
Investigation F.B.I certified that the sum of $38.000.000.00 is real
after proper scrutiny was made on the source of the Funds.

The Management of Wells Fargo Bank has charged you $38 for the total
transfer cost of your funds as it was explained that $1 is the cost
for transfer per 1 Million Dollars that $1*38 which equals it to US$38
for the US$38 Million Dollars and it is mandatory, you have to pay it
immediately or by an installment so that you can receive your funds
before the deadline because every unclaimed funds will be seized as
soon as possible it means that no payment will be prolonged any
longer.

For additional information about this message, please respond back
immediately so that I will give you the Wells Fargo Bank email
address. Remember, do NOT disclose your Bank Account details, login
credentials or card details and also avoid clicking suspicious links
in your email or text messages. If you receive any suspicious email
claiming to be from us or claiming to be from any Bank please try and
forward it to us because we are tracking down every scam email as soon
as it forwarded to us.

I look forward to hearing the great news that you have finally
received your Funds.

Thank you,
Christopher A. Wray
Director of FBI.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam