A 419 scam, also known as an advance-fee fraud, is a type of financial scam that typically involves a promise of large sums of money in return for a small upfront payment. The scam often claims to be from a wealthy individual or government official who needs help transferring funds, usually from a foreign country. Victims are persuaded to pay various fees, but they never receive the promised money. These scams are named after the Nigerian Criminal Code section that addresses fraud. While they can originate from anywhere, they often exploit trust and urgency, leading victims to lose significant amounts of money. Awareness and skepticism are key to avoiding such scams.