419 scam: "FACEBOOK INC" <gghahg@aol.com> LETTER FROM THE DESK OF FACEBOOK PRESIDENT (MARK ZUCKERBERG).

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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 INC" <gghahg@aol.com>
Reply-To: claimdept@facebookincpromotion.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2016 15:24:13 +0100
Subject: LETTER FROM THE DESK OF FACEBOOK PRESIDENT (MARK ZUCKERBERG).

FACEBOOK INC.
156 UNIVERSITY AVE.
PALO ALTO, CA 94301-1605
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

GREETINGS TO YOU DEAR LUCKY WINNER

We are pleased to inform you of the result that just concluded annual final held on the (22th Of May 2016) by the facebook group in cash promotion to encourage the usage of facebook world wide.

Your Email was among the 5 lucky winners who won the $600,000.00 USD ( Six Hundred United States Dollars) Each on the facebook grouo promotion.

Attached to the lucky number code (98482). The Ticket number (74B399), batched Number ( FB3423) And the Serial number (WYSU823D5462G)

The Online Draws was conducted by random selection of profile , you were picked by the advanced authomatic random computer search from the facebook in other to claim your $600,000.00 USD

The Lottery Program which is a new innovation by facebook, is aimed at saving big thank you to all our users for making facebook their number one means to connect, communication , relate and hook up with their families and friends over the year.

You are required to contact the head of our disbursement department in the person of agent Lincoln Honward With the information below in order for me to complete and update your prize certificate and for further information regarding the disbursement of your lottery prize through Email: claimdept@facebookincpromotion.com <mailto:claimdept@facebookincpromotion.com>

Full Name:
Address:
Mobile Number:
Occupation:
Marital Status:
Sex:
Age
Nationality:
Email:

THANKS AND MORE CONGRATULATIONS!

Announcer,
Mark Zuckerberg

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam