It is a popular term used in Nigeria for scammers that even a year old child could relate with and give perfect meaning of 419. 419 is not a good name that everyone condone. In Lagos state, once you are tagged a 419, the penalty is death, the street hooligans set them ablaze instantly because mercilessly they defraud people of any kind.
Lagos is a state where you buy a new phone and on getting home, all you will see is an empty phone with ordinary casing and some food or paper in it to make it have a bit weight and to deceive you the more and you can't go there back to claim they gave you a wrong phone or they scammed you, never. They would even be laughing at you because you can't do anything and that is their profession there in "Computer Village" the experience is too bad and numerous that no Nigerians would be able to explain more details in this your contest. We experience 419 act almost everyday of our lives in Nigeria.