{"type":"document","data":{"id":"37ec4cfd-f177-4711-af50-bca9235150eb","localeString":"en-GB","publishDate":"2025-06-11T15:06:22.405+02:00","contentType":"onecms:editorialPage","hasMacro":false,"flexPageMetadata":{"afmBanner":false,"robotInstruction":{"noIndex":false,"noFollow":false},"description":"The term \"419 scam\" refers to an article of the Nigerian Penal Code which sanctions a specific type of scam."},"mainHeaderZone":{"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"title":"The 419 scam or Nigerian prince scam","subtitle":"The term \"419 scam\" refers to an article of the Nigerian Penal Code which sanctions the type of scam presenting itself as follows.","body":"An e-mail from a so-called Nigerian prince tells you he needs your help to recover his assets which have been blocked due to the war. He just needs a small advance from you to cover the costs of unblocking his assets. This is not a new technique but it is still wreaking havoc today."},"backLink":{"textLink":{"url":"/en/individuals/fraud-and-security/online-fraud","text":"Online fraud"}},"date":"2025-06-11","readingTime":5},"flexZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"You have to send money to get back more money"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>This is the main feature of this scam, based on temptation. The victim has to pay out before they get any money. The amounts promised are often very high and might convince someone who is uncertain. On reading the scammers&apos; message correctly (see example below), you realise that the transaction breaks the rules. This is part of the technique because there is less chance of a victim who has been caught out reporting this because they themselves are part of a fraudulent transaction.</p>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Scammers use socially recognised functions to legitimise their message"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Since the Nigerian prince is no longer making money, scammers are looking for new profiles by stealing certain identities. They may pretend to be a Syrian bank, an American soldier based in the Middle East or - closer to home - the CEO of ING Belgium.</p><p>For example, here is a scam message reported to us (we have not corrected any language errors):</p><p>“My name is Peter Adams, the current CEO of ING in Belgium, I discover €900,000.00 from our deceased customer who died last year from Covid19 along with his wife and daughter and they have no next of kin. The money has been in the bank and I want to make your next of kin since you both have the same last name. This is without risk, I will prepare all necessary documents for you to sign and the money will be transferred to you once you have received the money. You will then return € 400,000 to me as my compensation. Reply to me as soon as possible so we can proceed. Peter Adams Chief Executive Officer of ING in Belgium.”</p>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What should you do if you are the target of this scam?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li>Above all, do not send the amounts requested. The funds promised are not real and you won&apos;t get anything back in return.</li><li>If you have shared your bank card (credit or debit) details, block this card immediately by calling Card Stop on 078 170 170. <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span>S<span>ending a new ING card can cost 9.99 euros.</span></span></span></span></li><li>Also notify your bank as quickly as possible. If you notify your bank quickly, you increase the bank&apos;s anti-fraud experts&apos; chances of recovering all or part of the amounts transferred or stolen.</li></ul>"}}]},"complementaryZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Also interesting!"},{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"Dating fraud","body":"Protect your bank account","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/0e720e06-5212-466a-98aa-4ba14a591210/datingfraud-1920","type":"image","width":1920,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/29b5fab130a298ca/original/datingfraud-1920.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"date":"2022-03-25","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/fraud-and-security/online-fraud/dating-fraud"}},{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"Card Fraud","body":"Use your card safely and securely","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/85862d41-3bcf-498c-901d-5f20a3bdb67c/Card-fraud-1920","type":"image","width":1920,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/5c7d735af450840e/original/Card-fraud-1920.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"date":"2023-04-06","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/fraud-and-security/online-fraud/use-card-safely"}},{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"Victim of fraud?","body":"What should you do?","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/400e0b8c-6ebf-4bbd-9661-5cf9d184b18d/fraud-contact-1920","type":"image","width":1920,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/10642c1f6cd10600/original/fraud-contact-1920.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"date":"2020-07-28"}]}]}}}