419 scam: "John Cole"<info@facbook.com> CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN 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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "facebooklott@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "facebooklott@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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: "John Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <facebooklott@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2015 21:03:40 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!

FACEBOOK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
CATEGORY: 2ND

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded
annual Final draws held on the (8 SEPTEMBER 2015) for this NEW
YEAR by Facebook group in cash Promotion to encourage the usage of
Facebook users worldwide, your javascript:void(0) Name was among the
50 Lucky winners who won $600,000:00USD (Six Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars) each on the Facebook 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, you
were picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from the
Facebook in order To claim your $600,000:00 USD the lottery program
which is a new innovation by Facebook is aimed at saying A BIG THANK
YOU to all our users for making Facebook 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 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 Legitimate 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 website and email
addresses promoted this lottery.

Your name was selected in a raffle that was made previously 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 (
facebooklott@outlook.com) signifying your interest by providing your
most confidential, telephone numbers for quick communication also your
country and home address.

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.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!

Regards,
John Cole
Promo Coordinator.
facebooklott@outlook.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam