419 scam
A classic advance-fee fraud originating in mass-email campaigns, named after the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code that criminalises such schemes.
Also known as: Nigerian prince scam, advance fee email
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
The 419 scam — also widely known as the 'Nigerian prince' scam — takes its name from Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code (though the fraud has been perpetrated from many countries). Its defining characteristic is an unsolicited message claiming the sender needs help moving a large sum of money out of a country and offering a generous share of the proceeds.
The recipient is asked to provide bank details and advance fees — taxes, legal costs, bribes — that keep multiplying. No share of the funds ever materialises. Despite the cliché, 419 scams continue to cause significant financial harm because they are sent in such enormous volume and the financial rewards for successful cases are large.
Modern 419 scams extend beyond email to social media, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn, and the cover story now frequently involves cryptocurrency, inheritance, or business-deal scenarios rather than the classic 'dying diplomat' narrative.