Advance Fee Fraud
Also known as: 419 scam, Nigerian prince scam, upfront fee fraud
You're promised a large sum of money — an inheritance, lottery win, or business opportunity — but must first pay a small 'processing fee' to release it. The money never arrives, but the fees keep escalating.
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How it works
Advance fee fraud is one of the oldest scams on the internet. It preys on the combination of greed and hope. The scammer contacts you (often via unsolicited email, WhatsApp, or Facebook) with a story designed to sound too good to be true but just plausible enough: a deceased relative left you money, a wealthy foreign official needs help moving funds, you've won a foreign lottery.
To access the money, you must first pay something small — a 'customs clearance fee,' 'legal retainer,' 'tax settlement,' or 'bank transfer fee.' Once you pay, a new obstacle appears requiring another fee. Each payment is framed as the last one before the big payout.
The promised money never exists. The scammer's only goal is to keep you paying fees until you run out of money or realize the trap.
Warning signs
- ⚠An unexpected promise of a large sum of money from someone you don't know
- ⚠Any request to pay money upfront to receive a larger amount
- ⚠Poor grammar or strange phrasing (though AI is making this less reliable)
- ⚠Requests to keep the arrangement secret
- ⚠Urgency or threats that you'll lose the money if you don't act now
- ⚠Payment requests via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
- ⚠Stories involving foreign royalty, deceased wealthy relatives, or government officials
- ⚠Escalating fees — each 'last payment' is followed by another
Who does this target?
Where does it happen?
What to do if you've encountered this
- 1.Stop all contact with the scammer immediately. Do not respond, do not send more money, do not try to "reason" with them.
- 2.Document everything — screenshots of conversations, phone numbers, email addresses, websites, and any transaction details.
- 3.If money was sent, contact your bank immediately. Wire and ACH reversals are measured in hours, not days.
- 4.Report the scam to the appropriate agencies:
Warning: After any scam, watch out for "recovery scammers" who promise to get your money back for an upfront fee. They are always a second scam. See our recovery scam warning guide.
Related scam patterns
Romance Scam
A scammer builds an online romantic relationship over weeks or months to eventually convince the victim to send money — for a medical emergency, travel costs, business problems, or any other manufactured crisis. The victim usually never meets the 'partner' in person.
Lottery and Prize Scam
A notification tells you you've won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize — often one you never entered. To claim the prize, you must first pay 'taxes,' 'processing fees,' or 'insurance.' The prize doesn't exist; the fees go directly to the scammer.
Investment Fraud
Scammers promise unrealistic returns on investments that don't exist or are structured to pay early investors with later investors' money (Ponzi schemes). Common targets include forex, crypto, real estate, gold, and 'guaranteed returns' programs.
