419 scam: "Facebook ©"<fbmessage+donation@mac.com> GOLD MEMBERSHIP STATUS

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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:
- "keep all winning information confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- lazarosmavros@centrum.cz (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Facebook ©" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lazarosmavros@centrum.cz>
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:50:51 +0800
Subject: GOLD MEMBERSHIP STATUS

Congratulation!!!
YOUR PROFILE HAS COMPLETED 100% STATUS OF NOTIFICATION ON FACEBOOK....

We happily announce to you and be notified by our organization (http://www.facebook.com) that your profile has just completed it's 100% status of notification which just qualified you for the donation of $4,000.000.00 (Four Million USD).

By this membership verification notice you are advised to get in touch with the contact person in charge for further instructions and claim.

Ensure that you quote the following information for clarification.
Full Names,Telephone, Address and qualification numbers to the Executive Sec with your Qualification number: ( FB-57-20100, R-456-76)

Contact Person: Mr.Mavrosa Lazarosa
Email: lazarosmavros@centrum.cz

However,payment would be made to respective profile members not later than 7 working days of notification.

Note: Ensure to keep all winning information confidential to avoid disqualification.

Sincerely yours,
Face-Book Team

In accordance with (http://www.facebook.com) policy and regulations, this notification is dispatched directly to only 100% completed profiles of notification.
<Copy Right © 2011 Facebook Team . All Rights Reserved>

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam