Guide to the Email scam letters collection M2122

Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2021
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Email Scam Letters Collection
source: Fung, Karen
Identifier/Call Number: M2122
Physical Description: 50 gigabyte(s)
Date (inclusive): 2002-2014
Abstract: "419" or "advance fee" scam email letters collected between 2002-2014

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. The full text of the email in this collection is accessible in the Department of Special Collections reading room. In order to access this content, please contact specialcollections@stanford.edu.
A redacted set of metadata related to this collection of email is available at https://epadd.stanford.edu/epadd/collection-detail?collection=ePADD%20archive%20of%20Email%20Spam%20Collection-Discovery

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was given by Karen Fung to Stanford University, Special Collections in 2016

Historical Note

The Email scam letters collection was acquired by Stanford Libraries bibliographer, Karen Fung from email she received. The letters, a type of Advance Fee Fraud, are also sometimes called the "419" scam after the section of the Nigerian penal code which covers the crime. This type of fraud is believed to have originated in the 18th century. The fraudster tricks the victim into paying money up front to supposedly receive a future, larger payoff.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Email scam letters collection (M2122). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Scope and Contents

The Email scam letters collection consists of email messages and attachments used in "419" or "advance fee" scams. The collection contains only messages sent by email scammers, there are no messages in response.

Conditions Governing Use

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Internet Fraud
Swindlers and swindling
Transnational crime
Fung, Karen