Nigerian prince email scams: how the advance-fee trick works
Quick answer
An email, letter or message from a stranger who offers you a share of millions if you help move money is an advance-fee scam. The money doesn't exist. Don't reply, don't send fees or bank details, and report it at ic3.gov.
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How it works
The FBI calls this a Nigerian letter or "419" fraud: a variation of an advance-fee scheme. The name comes from the section of Nigeria's criminal code these schemes break. The scammers can be anywhere, and the story changes: a prince, a bank officer, a lawyer handling a dead relative's estate, a government official with funds to move.
The pitch is always the same shape. A stranger says they need your help to move a large sum of money and you'll get a cut. First they ask for something small: a fee, a tax, a legal document, your bank account details so they can "send" your share. Once you pay, a new cost appears. The FBI notes the payments continue for as long as the victim keeps paying.
What they're after is money, and often your bank details and identity documents too, which they can use for other fraud.
Red flags
- A stranger offers you millions for "helping" with a money transfer
- You're asked to pay a fee, tax or legal cost before you get anything
- A request for your bank account details or ID to "send your share"
- Heavy secrecy, urgency or claims of a government or royal connection
- Poor grammar, a generic greeting and a reply-to address that doesn't match the sender
Example message
Dear friend, I am a barrister handling the estate of a late client who shares your surname. He left [amount] with no heir. I need a trusted foreign partner and you will receive 40% of the funds. Reply with your full name, phone number and bank details to begin.
What to do
- 1
Don't reply
Replying confirms your address works and invites more messages. Delete the email or mark it as spam. For a mailed letter, the FBI says not to reply in any manner.
- 2
If you sent money, tell your bank now
Call the number on your card or statement, say it was fraud and ask whether the payment can be stopped. Keep every receipt and message.
- 3
If you gave bank or ID details, lock things down
Change passwords on accounts you mentioned, turn on two-step verification and consider a credit freeze. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the steps.
- 4
Ignore offers to get your money back
The FTC warns that anyone who offers to recover lost money for an upfront fee is running another scam.
- 5
Report it
File a report at ic3.gov, and with the FTC if you're in the US. Include the sender's address and any payment details.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
These emails are usually mass-sent, but follow-ups can be aimed at you once you reply, using your name, address and phone number. Scammers get that kind of detail from people-search sites and breach data. Serus finds the data brokers that list you and removes your listings, and alerts you when your email shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can build a personal pitch.
Frequently asked
Is the Nigerian prince email real?
No. The FBI describes it as an advance-fee fraud. The funds don't exist and the costs they ask for never end.
Do these scams only come from Nigeria?
No. The name stuck because of the original wave, but the same pitch now comes from scammers anywhere and from people claiming any nationality.
What should I do if I already replied?
Stop replying and don't send anything. Block the sender and report it at ic3.gov. Watch for follow-up messages that use details you shared.
Can I get my money back?
Contact your bank straight away, as quick action gives the best chance. Be wary of anyone who offers to recover it for a fee.
Sources
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