419 scam: "FACEBOOK LOTTERY"<feedbackunit@ymail.com> CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

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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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- facebook_lottery@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "FACEBOOK LOTTERY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <flottery@yahoo.it>
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 08:10:41 -0500
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

FACEBOOK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
CATEGORY: 2ND

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual Final draws held on the (1st January 2013) for this NEW YEAR by Facebook group in cash Promotion to encourage the usage of Facebook users worldwide, your javascript:void(0) Name was among the 20 Lucky winners who won $600.000.00USD (Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) each on the Facebook group promotion Award Attached to ticket number (5647600545189) and Ref No (2551256002/244) Serial Number (55643451907).

The online draws was Conducted by a random selection of emails, you were picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from the Facebook in order To claim your $600.000.00USD the lottery program which is a new innovation by Facebook is aimed at saying A BIG THANK YOU to all our users for making Facebook their number one means to connect, communicate, relate and hook up with their families and friends over the years.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants and Scam artists All participants selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies' and 30,000,000 individuals' email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three years. You have to be Rest assured that this is Real and Legitimate and there are Some Scam artists around...Thanks to the FBI...216 of them have been arrested... The software corporation to encourage some few individuals with website and email addresses promoted this lottery.

Your name was selected in a raffle that was made 1st January 2013 so we need your fast response so that we can proceed with the delivery of your fund.

You are required to contact our dispatch dept via email (facebook_lottery@rocketmail.com) with information below in order for us to complete your winning certificate and for further information
regarding the disbursement of your lottery win.

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:
NATIONALITY / COUNTRY:
TICKET NUMBER:
REF NUMBER:
SERIAL NUMBER:
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS:

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences. Furthermore, if there is any change in email address please contact us on time

Note: Do not reply to these Face Book Account for security purpose reply to the payment department in charge and if you are not interested please do not bother to reply.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!

Regards,
Patrick Widen
Promo Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam