Nigerian prince

English

Etymology

Derived from early instances of advance fee scams in which the perpetrator of the scam would send potential victims an email claiming to be a Nigerian prince seeking to move a large amount of money into their country.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /naɪˌdʒɪəɹɪən ˈpɹɪns/, /naɪˌdʒɪɹiən ˈpɹɪns/

Noun

Nigerian prince (plural Nigerian princes)

1. A cheat who seeks to obtain money through advance fee scams

   I fell for a Nigerian prince scam

   • 2012, Peter M. Haas, John A. Hird, Controversies in Globalization: Contending Approaches to International Relations, CQ Press, page 219:

     Today, in an increasingly interconnected world, a person is more likely to be robbed by a “Nigerian prince” on the Internet than a masked street thug.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see Nigerian,‎ prince.

Related terms

• Nigerian scam