Advance fee fraud is a confidence trick in which victims are persuaded to advance relatively small sums of money in the hope of realising a much larger gain. A typical version of the fraud is an email, often from Nigeria, seeking an investor to help in transfer large sums of money (usually in tens of millions) out of the country, promising the investor a share.  The fraudster then makes a request for a sum of money that is required in facilitating the transaction, such as a bribe to bank officials or to pay certain fees such as processing or customs fees.  These scams can be highly elaborate and can appear to be very convincing, netting an estimated US$1 million daily from victims in the United States alone (Wagner, 2004).

An example of a classic Nigerian advance fee fraud proposal dating ten years back is as follows (U.S. Department of State, 1997):

“Having consulted with my colleagues, and based on information gathered from the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, I am pleased to propose a confidential business transaction to our mutual benefit. I and my colleagues have in our possession instruments to transfer the sum of $35,500,000.00 into a foreign company’s account in our favor. This amount emanated as a result from an over-invoiced contract, executed, commissioned, and paid for about two years ago by a foreign contractor. We are therefore seeking your assistance in transferring this money to your account as it can only be remitted to a foreign account, and as civil servants, we are forbidden to operate foreign accounts. The total sum will be shared as follows:
   30% for the account owner (you)
   60% for us
   10% to settle any incidental expenses
“We shall commence the transfer of funds immediately, as soon as you send the following documents/information through the above fax number.
   1. Four copies of your company’s letter head and invoice papers signed and stamped
   2. Your banker’s name, address and fax numbers
   3. The account number and name of would be beneficiary.
“Bear in mind that this is absolutely a private and personal deal, nonofficial; and should be treated with all measure of secrecy and confidentiality.

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Various versions of advance fee fraud have evolved since, even from outside of Nigeria, but employing the same principles as the foregoing classic version.  Themes include the collection of lottery winnings, job offers, business opportunities, and deceased estate, among others. The basic premise of the various types of advance fee fraud is to collect money in advance such as legal and administrative fees to collect a lottery winning, to apply for a job, set up a business, or to collect a deceased estate.

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