419 scam: "Facebook Award"<facebook@award.com> Re: You Are Selected!!!

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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 states 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Facebook Award" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <inoffice214@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:22:27 -0400
Subject: Re: You Are Selected!!!

FACE BOOK ONLINE LOTTERY PROGRAM
FACE BOOK ONLINE LOTTERY PROGRAM 2014
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
BATCH NUMBER: 2551236002/244
SERIAL NUMBER. 55643451907
TICKET NUMBER: 5647600545189
CATEGORY: 2ND

Dear Face Book Winner ,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual Final draws held on the ( 27th of july 2014) by Face book group in cash Promotion to encourage the usage of Face book all over the world,each winner 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 emails whereby your email was picked by an Advanced automated Genetic Machine search from the Face book In-Search World Wide, in other To claim your $600,000.00USD ( Six Hundred Thousand United states Dollars ),you will have to follow every instruction given to you Via this Email...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.

You are required to provide us 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:

Remember all winnings must be claimed not later than 20th of August, 2014. 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 To enable the issue of you certificate of winning Accept my hearty congratulations once again

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACE BOOK!!!!

Mr. William Peterson
Head of Claims Department and General Secretary of the CEO FACEBOOK TEAM

APPROVED AND SIGNED
BY MR MARK ZUCKERBERG CEO FACEBOOK TEAM

Thanks,
Regards,
Promo Coordinator.Promo Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam