Nigerian Internet Scam
The Nigerian internet scam, also referred to as the 419 scam, is a form of advance fee fraud in which a target is persuaded via email to advance a relatively small sum of money overseas in the hopes of realizing a much larger gain.
Fast Facts
- 419 refers to a section of the Nigerian criminal code that deals with fraud
- Countries that have issued 419 warnings:1
How It Works
Someone claiming to be a Nigerian business person or former government official will contact you asking to transfer millions of dollars to your bank account in exchange for a small fee. If you respond to the initial offer, you may receive what appear to be "official" documents. You will then be asked to provide blank letterhead, your bank account number and enough cash to cover the transfer of funds to your account. You may even be encouraged to travel to Nigeria to complete the transaction. Inevitably, an emergency will come up requiring you to give the con artists even more money. They will eventually disappear with the funds.2
If You Receive An Offer
If you receive an email from someone claiming to need help getting money out of Nigeria, forward it to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. If you have lost money in one of these schemes, call your local Secret Service field office.
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