A 419 scam, also known as an advance-fee fraud, is a type of financial scam that typically involves a scammer promising a large sum of money in exchange for a small upfront payment. The scam often claims that the victim must pay fees or taxes to access the promised funds, which never materialize. These scams often originate from emails or messages claiming to be from a wealthy individual, government official, or business entity. Victims are lured in by the promise of easy money, but ultimately lose their initial investment without receiving anything in return.