419 scam: "Bernardo Jose"<bernardjjhg@yahoo.it> FROM BERNARDO JOSE PLEASE REPLY ME

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- bernardojose02@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bernardo Jose" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bernardojose02@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:49:32 -0700
Subject: FROM BERNARDO JOSE PLEASE REPLY ME

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr.Bernardo Jose I am from Portugal Please take this Serious. I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and Right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world.

Before I pass away I want you to help me claim the huge cash deposit of (US$8.5,million) that I have with a Finance House in EUROPE, I will want you to help me claim this deposit and dispatch it to Charity organizations.

Please get back to me via my alternative e-mail: bernardojose02@gmail.com for further explanation.

Mr.Bernardo Jose

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam