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419 Scams (Foreign Money Offers)

Often sent from con artists claiming to be foreign diplomats, business executives or even troubled widows, these scams, which are named after a section of Nigerian criminal law, use emailed promises of riches to lure victims into paying fake bank fees, bribes, taxes, etc. Once a victim replies to the initial email, victims receive heartfelt correspondence from the con artist that often come along with official looking documents. All this "corroborating evidence" creates a sense of legitimacy that helps to ensnare the victim.

1. Internet Crime Complaint Center, Internet Crime report 2006