ScamScan Dictionary

Definition of '419'

'419' scams have been around (in various forms) for centuries. The target receives a message indicating that a large amount of money needs to be moved from one place to another, and that the target will received a percentage of the money if they can help with the transfer.

Once the target agrees to help with the transfer, they are told that fees (or bribes) need to be paid before the money can be moved, and are asked to transfer (sometimes quite substantial) amounts of money to the scammer. Additional money will be requested until the target starts becoming difficult (refusing to pay, threatening legal action, etc.), the scammer needs to disappear (the scammer will normally spam multiple targets and run several targets at a time, so if the threat of discovery becomes too great they will walk away from all targets) or the scammer gets bored (rare!)

A '419' scam is usually easy to spot, and so easy to avoid. Sometimes the scam is 'reinforced' by including links to news web sites that support the scammer's story (particularly when it involves the death/arrest of a wealthy or powerful person.) Key indicators of a '419' scam are:

• Unexpected contact from a stranger
• Mention of foreign countries, particularly in Africa
• Mention of a large amount of money to be transferred/invested
• Requests for fees/bribes to be paid before the money is release

Victims of '419' scams are usually so embarrassed about falling for the scam that they may not report it to the police, so there may be no investigation and so no risk to the scammer.

'419' scams are named after the particular section of Nigerian law (where the scam originated in the Eighties) which the scam violates.