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:
- "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.
- facebookdept@usa.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "FACEBOOK LOTTERY" <feedbackunit@ymail.com>
Reply-To: online_facebook@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:03:00 -0500
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
Final draws held on the (20th Feburay 2012) by Face book group in cash
Promotion to encourage the usage of Face book world wide, 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
Face book 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 email you where
picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from the Face book
in other To claim your $600.000.00USD the lottery program which is a new
innovation by Face book, is aimed at saying A BIG THANK YOU to all our
users for making Face book 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 were 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 Legal..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 web site and email addresses promoted this lottery.

Your name was selected in a raffle that was made 20th Feburay 2012 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
(facebookdept@usa.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:

All winnings must be claimed not later than 30th March 2012. After this
date, all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. 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.

To enable him issue you certificate of winning Accept my hearty
congratulations once again

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!

Thanks,
Regards,
Patrick Widen
Promo Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam