Meanings
plural Nigerian scams
- InternetAn attempt to defraud by sending out large numbers of emails, each stating that the recipient is entitled to receive a large amount of money, but will need to supply banking account details, or to send payment for fees, before the payment can be passed on.
Even savvy Internet users have fallen victim to the ubiquitous Nigerian scam.
Synonyms: 419 fraud, 419 scam, advance fee scam
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn attempt to defraud by sending out large numbers of emails, each stating that the recipient is entitled to receive a large amount of money, but will need to supply banking account details, or to send payment for fees, before the payment can be passed on.
Origin
The scam messages usually claim to originate from Nigeria, though this is often a spoof.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish nigerialaiskirje
- nigerialaiskirjeattempt to defraud
Polish nigeryjski przekręt, nigeryjski szwindel
- nigeryjski przekrętattempt to defraud
- nigeryjski szwindelattempt to defraud
Spanish estafa nigeriana
- estafa nigerianaattempt to defraud
Cite this entry
Nigerian scam. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Nigerian%20scam
“Nigerian scam.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Nigerian%20scam. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Nigerian scam,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Nigerian%20scam.
Source: Nigerian scam on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.