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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Dev Sanyal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <greatyxreda@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 21:48:03 -0500
Subject: URGENT INFO. FROM BP OIL Co.

Hello,
My name is Dev Sanyal, Executive Vice President and Group Chief of Staff,BP Oil and Gas Company.
We are planning to transfer out a huge amount of money to someone who coud be trusted so that we can resign officially and engage into private practice(after resignation).
We request you,in the name of God to help us receive a fund which we are ready to shift out from here to enable us open a business setting/start a business and new life in your country.
Please get back to me If you agree with our proposal so that we can inform you more on the way forward.
Please keep this strictly confidential.I shall tell you more on how to proceed as soon as I hear from you.
I look forward to your positive response.
All correspondence should be sent through my private email address: devsanyalls@live.com
Best regards,
Mr. Dev Sanyal.

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