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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Erskine Bowles." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <facebookwatchteam@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2014 10:32:58 +0300
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!

Facebook Corporate Office & Headquarters
1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California 94025
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
 
CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!
 
Facebook is one of the largest Social Networking site which valued more than $100 Billion Dollars and also expecting its One Billion Users to come mainly from Mobile devices than desktop Users by this year 2014, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has decided to boost Users and Companies a WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY by organizing a Lottery Program and Initial Public Offer said in a press release.
 
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the NEW YEAR DRAW held on ( 3rd September 2014 ) by Facebook Company in cash Promotion to encourage the usage of Facebook users world wide, your Name and Email was among the 20 Lucky winners who won Us$150,000.00 USD ( One Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars ) each on the Facebook promotion Award Attached to Ticket Number (5647600545189), Ref No (2551256002/244) and Serial Number (55643451907).
 
The online draw was Conducted by a random selection of email and you were picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from the Facebook in other to claim your Us$150,000.00 USD the lottery program which is a new innovation by Facebook, is aimed at saying A BIG THANKS to all our users for making Facebook their number one Social Networking site to hook up with their families and friends all over the World.
 
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 were selected through a computer ballot system with their email addresses and names from all over the world.
 
Thanks to the FBI and the Software Company corporation to block few individuals,web site and email addresses.
 
Your name and email was selected in a raffle draw that was made 3rd September 2014, 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 (  facebookwatchteam@outlook.com , Contact Name: Erskine Bowles ) in other for us to complete your Winning Certificate and for further information regarding the disbursement of your lottery prize. Meanwhile, a man sent a letter to our office late yesterday, claiming to be your true representative. Here are his provided information for you to confirm to this office if this man is truly from you or not, so that, we will not be held responsible for paying your winning to a wrong person.
 
         Bank Name: BB&T Bank, USA.
         1801 ADAMS MILL ROAD
         WASHINGTON,DC 20009-1901
         Account Number:1090000009620
         Routing Number:054001547
         Account Name : Gregory Phillips
 
Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man is from you. Note however that, you are not to send money to anyone to receive your funds as the authority is against that, and don't let people, impersonator fool you or scam you, otherwise you will regret it after wasting money and effort. However for the purpose of proper verification among other relevant information, it is imperative that you forward your claims to our claim department with the below details.
 
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 Ticket, Reference and Batch Numbers in all correspondences. Furthermore, if there is any change in email address please contact us on time.
 
If you are not interested please do not bother to reply and CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!
 
Thanks,
Erskine Bowles.
Promo Coordinator.
FACEBOOK (c) 2014

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