419 (novel)

419 is a 2009 novel by Nigerian-Canadian writer Will Ferguson. The novel, a thriller named after the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud (specifically, advance-fee scams, commonly known as "419 scams"), follows several interconnected characters affected by the consequences of such a scam.

The narrative begins with Laura Curtis, a young woman whose father succumbs to a 419 scam email. His subsequent death in a car accident, caused by his preoccupation with the fraudulent scheme, sets the plot in motion. The story then expands to include Amina, a young Nigerian woman whose brother is involved in the scam, and Winston, a Canadian journalist investigating the criminal network behind the fraud.

The novel explores themes of globalization, the clash between cultures, the lure of easy money, and the devastating impact of online fraud on individuals and communities. Ferguson uses multiple perspectives and interwoven storylines to illustrate the far-reaching consequences of the 419 scam, extending from Canada to Nigeria and impacting the lives of individuals across social and economic strata. It received the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize.