Nigerian Scam
A scam most often perpetrated by email. In a Nigerian scam, the sender requests help in facilitating the transfer of a substantial sum of money. In return, the sender offers a commission, usually in the range of several million dollars. The scammers then request that money be sent to pay for some of the costs associated with the transfer. If money is sent to the scammers, they will either immediately disappear or try to get more money with claims of continued problems with the transfer.
Investopedia Commentary
The reason that this type of scam is referred to as a "Nigerian scam" is because it originated in Nigeria in the 1970s. The scammers hope that the commission offered will be enticing enough to compel the recipient to take the risk of sending thousands of dollars to a stranger. The reasons given for the transfer can differ from a government freezing an account to the existence of an account with no beneficial owner. When it comes to this type of request, however, it is important to remember that anything that sounds too good to be true usually is.
Warnings signs of a Nigerian scam include a U.S. currency account in a foreign country (Nigeria, Iraq, Mauritius), odd spelling and language in the body of the email, and a promise of substantial compensation for little effort.
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See also: Deceased Alert, Identity Theft, Phishing, Ponzi Scheme, Pyramid Scheme, Skimming