419 scam: "Mr. Bernard Jones" <benardjones33@gmail.com> I hope your day is blessed?

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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:

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:
- "money transfer control number" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Bernard Jones" <benardjones33@gmail.com>
Reply-To: 0023323@naver.com
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2021 18:22:20 +0100
Subject: I hope your day is blessed?

I hope you got my previous email since you ignored it, what happens?

Bear in mind that your next of kin, wants to pay the necessary charge
so that a change of ownership a certificate

can be issued to him to have legal right to claim your money.

N/B Note that you will be required to pay the IMF payment Release
Bound administrative charge of $50 for file

endorsement processing charge.

Be informed that any further delay from your side could be dangerous,
as we will not be held responsible for any
wrong payment.

So kindly contact us urgently with the $50, as we have his
identification and residence he provided for this

payment to be wired to his account.

Here is the receiver details you will use send the $50

Receiver name ::::: Frank Ata
Country ::::: Benin Republic
City ::::: Nikki
Amount ::::: $50
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.)N :::::
Sender's name :::::

I guarantee you if you do not receive your funds after you send this
$50 I will refund your money back to you, and

I swear you must receive your funds within 6hours you send the $50, 100% sure.

Again, if you know you cannot afford this charge of $50 then give us a
power of attorney to grant me
authorization to let your next of kin pay the charge so that the fund
can be transferred to his bank account.

Yours in Services
Mr. Bernard Jones
Minister Of Foreign Affairs

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam