Across years of tip streams, the same props return: fake bank drafts and bank confirmation letters branded as Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Barclays, or regional European banks. Named “scammer” entities change; the method does not.
Letterhead theft works because victims recognise the brand faster than they read the fields. Formatting errors, impossible balances, and missing bank-channel references give the forgery away — if you look.
Always Call the bank using a number from the official website. Ask whether the document type and reference exist. Do not call numbers printed on the suspect PDF.
Common pack types
- Banker’s drafts with no deposit path that survives a branch check
- “Confirmation of funds” letters for offshore SPVs
- MT103 screens converted via free PDF tools (metadata often exposes this)
- Follow-on blackmail after engagement (see CF-015)
Name-trail examples already on Scam Wire: CF-012 Braun · CF-006 Amadeus/Maxxoline.
Standards: Educational case patterns and public-source red flags. Not legal advice. We do not invent convictions. Verify every bank claim through official channels.
Tips: tip desk · all case files.