419 scam: Facebook Cash Promotion <steve@pigmentweb.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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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.
- flomike001@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Facebook Cash Promotion <steve@pigmentweb.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2016 17:47:32 +0800
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the concluded annual Final draws
held on the (20th of Jan. 2015) by Facebook cash Promotion to encourage
all Facebook users worldwide, your Name was among the 10 Lucky winners who won
$250.000.00USD (Two hundred and Fifty Thousand United State dollars) each on
the Facebook group promotion Award Attached to ticket number (0938177313041)
and Ref No (7451389115/762) Serial Number (39018463825).

To enable us proceed with the your winning payment. You are required to
contact our dispatch dept (flomike001@gmail.com) Please remember to quote your
Ticket, Reference and Batch Numbers in all correspondences. Furthermore, if
there is any change in email address please contact us on time. Do not
disclose the above numbers to anyone.

Note: Do not reply to this mail for security purpose, kindly contact the
payment department via the above email address. Provide your most
confidential, Your Name, Cell/Mobile number for quick communication also your
home address and country.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!!!

Regards,
Steve Murphy
Online winnings Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam