Deepak Gupta

Prize, fee, and payment tricks · Also called 419 scam, Nigerian prince scam, inheritance scam, unclaimed funds scam, foreign money offer

Advance fee and 419 scam

An advance fee scam is a message promising you a large sum, such as an inheritance, a share of a fortune, or goods held at customs, if you first pay a fee. The fee is followed by more fees, and the promised money never arrives because it never existed.

How it works

A letter, email, or social media message says you are the heir to an inheritance or insurance policy, or asks for help moving a large sum out of a country.
The sender, often posing as a lawyer, banker, or official, offers you a share of the money and asks for your personal and bank details.
You are told a fee, tax, or charge must be paid before the money or goods can be released.
Each payment is followed by a new problem and a new fee, until you stop paying.

Red flags

An unexpected letter, email, or message says you are entitled to money or an inheritance from someone you have never heard of.
You must pay a fee, tax, or administration charge before the money can be released.
The sender asks for your bank account or Social Security number to process the payment.
Someone overseas, perhaps posing as an official or bank manager, asks for your help moving a large sum of money into your country.

If you are targeted

Stop contact: do not reply, and do not send any more money or personal details.
If you paid, contact your bank or payment provider straight away and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed.
If you shared your bank or identity details, tell your bank and watch your accounts and credit reports for misuse.
Report it. Our Report a scam page lists where to report in your country, such as ic3.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov in the US.

Where to report, by country

Prevention

For individuals

Follow the FTC's rule: never send money or information to a stranger who promises big rewards.
Do not reply to letters about an inheritance or insurance policy from a relative you have never heard of.
Check any claim with a source you find yourself, such as your own bank or lawyer, never the contact details in the message.

For organisations

Banks can question customers who are sending repeated overseas payments described as fees, taxes, or release charges.

By the numbers

Figures are for the reporting category this scam falls under, not this scam alone.

Advance fee losses reported to the FBI IC3 in 2025

$155.9M

US, 2025, FBI IC3

Real cases

No documented case in the atlas yet. New cases are added as they are sourced.

Delivered through: Email phishing

How official datasets classify it

FBI IC3: Advanced Fee
FTC: Foreign Money & Inheritance Scams
UK Finance: Advance fee scam
Scamwatch: Unexpected money scams

Questions

What is a 419 scam?: It is an advance fee scam, also known as a Nigerian or foreign money offer scam, in which a stranger promises you a large share of money in return for fees paid up front. The money does not exist.
A law firm says I am the heir to a fortune. Is it real?: If you have never heard of the relative and they want money or your bank details first, it is a scam. The FTC advises not responding and keeping your money and information to yourself.