Ongratulations?

The cat has abandoned his screenplay as it seems his idea for a movie about a silent screen star making the transition to ‘talkies’ wasn’t as original as he thought, so he has decided to return to the task sorting out the financial affairs of Africa. (Personally, I think he was dreading the idea of writing dialog).

With his return, we shall press on once again with our task of shining light upon the cyber-cockroaches of the world.

Speaking of which, it seems that we have, once again, won a large sum of money in a lottery we didn’t even know existed. It’s remarkable how often that happens. It is quite nearly inversely proportional to how often we win money in lotteries in which we partake.

This time it’s from Facebook and it appears that we are being notified by Marc Zuckerberg himself.

Oh, wait a moment, Facebook’s founder is Mark Zuckerberg. That’s Mark with a “K”.

Who, then, is Marc Zuckerberg? Let’s see if we can find out.

From: Marc Zuckerberg [mailto:facebooklotterypayment@ovi.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 4:40 AM
To: ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
Subject: ONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON A FACEBOOK LOTTERY

Ongratulation? Not a very good start for someone who allegedly attended Harvard.

FACEBOOK LOTTERY OFFICE VERIFICATION FORM
1601 S California Ave,
Palo Alto,California
94304 United States.
Email: facebooklotterypayment@ovi.com
Tel : +447035908868
Ref: 990078567
Batch: 9056490602/333
Winning no: FB8701/LPRC
Ticket number; 85430000-07024570000
Serial number; 7755551111

Well, Facebook’s physical address is the address listed above. Ovi.com doesn’t seem to be related to Facebook in any way, shape or form, however. It seems to belong to Nokia. Maybe they’ve contributed to the prize package.

CONGRATULATIONS!!
This is to inform the bearer that You have won the sum of $1,500,000.000 OUR 2012 SWEEPSTAKES (Facebook Inc ) This is a bonus to promote our users worldwide through this online lottery, Which is fully based on an electronic selection .

According to the Wikipedia entry about Facebook, (which probably won’t say much on Jan 18) it has approximately 800 million users. How much promotion does it need?

We hereby approve you a lump sum of $150,000.000 (one fifty thousand US
Dollars) in Cash Credit File- ILP/HW 47407/02 from the total cash prize for
eight lucky winners in this category.

Did they not say that the promotion was for $1,500,000? Did they also not state that there were eight lucky winners? If we assume that these two statements are correct, then why are we awarded only $150,000. That would be the correct sum for ten winners. The correct amount for eight winners would be $187,500. Where did the other $300,000 go?

All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn in
Nine hundred thousand E-mail address on www.facebook.com website from the
listed countries: Canada,Australia,United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East
and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is
conducted annually.

We find it hard to believe that only nine hundred thousand of Facebook’s eight hundred million users have email addresses. Wasn’t that a requirement to join?

This Lotto was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some
multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the
citizens in the Aspect that impacts people’s lifestyle worldwide.

This must be where Nokia was involved.

Further more your details(e-mail address) falls within our European
representative office in Amsterdam, Holland, as indicated in your play
coupon and your prize of $150,000.000 (one fifty thousand US Dollars) will
be released to you from this regional branch office in England .

Wait a minute. If we remember correctly, our address was part of the sign-up process. We are most certainly not in Europe. At any rate, if Facebook is in Palo Alto, California, why are they running this promotion from Amsterdam and subbing it out to England? Maybe that’s why it’s costing them $300,000 in administrative costs.

To proceed on your claim validation, we will need your particulars to verify
your winning. This will be required to draw up the winning papers in your
name. Please if you are not the certified owner of this email address,
please do not respond as that will amount to impersonation which could lead to civil or/and criminal proceedings against you…

We are more concerned about how Marc is going to prove who he is. The cat and I can vouch for each other. We don’t remember ever having been threatened by a lottery before.

Attached here is a copy of our verifications form; please fill accordingly
so as to proceed with your winning validation.
Please attach a recent passport photograph if available (For identification
at payment point)

1. FULL NAMES:
_____________________________
2. DATE OF BIRTH:
_________________________________________________
3. SEX:
_________________________________________________
4. MARITAL STATUS:
_________________________________________________
5.CONTACT ADDRESS:
_________________________________________________
6.TELEPHONE NUMBER:
_________________________________________________
7.OCCUPATION:
_________________________________________________
8.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:

________________________________________________

It’s gratifying to see that Facebook is taking full advantage of its graphics arts department and spared no expense in producing this wonderful form. Maybe that’s where the missing $300,000 went.

Please Note that we do not compromise our service and all instructions must be followed accordingly.

It’s nice to know that they are uncompromising.

Upon receipt of the duly requested data which is to be sent via email, you
will receive the contact information of the payment office to effect the
release of your claim in any way you deem fit.

We would like to believe that we could simply ask them to mail us a check, but we shall not hold our breath.

Marc Andreessen
1601 S California Ave,
Palo Alto,California
94304 United States.
London Line Tel:+447035908868
X-Originating-IP: 194.143.132.172
Message-ID: 1326360660_838069@srv194199

Well, well, well, indeed. This must certainly be a remarkable program. They were able to get Marc Andreesen, who practically invented the Internet, (sorry, Al Gore, but it really was Andreesen), to act as Marc Zuckerberg’s typist.

We did have some questions, so we sent the following reply.

From: Ellis Tyd ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com>
To: ‘Marc Zuckerberg’ <facebooklotterypayment@ovi.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 10:17 PM
Subject: RE: ONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON A FACEBOOK LOTTERY
Why do you have a UK phone # in Palo Alto? I can’t make long distance calls.
And why are you using Nokia’s email, why not use your own?

We received the following response.

Subject: WE NEED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT YOU TO PROCESS YOUR CHEQUE
From: facebooklotterypayment@ovi.com
To: Ellis Tyd; ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
Date Sent: 1/13/2012 10:12:04 AM

FACEBOOK LOTTERY PROMO
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
BACTH NO: FBOL/009842/04.
REF. NO. FBOL/107654/04
TICKET NUMBER: W023-0148-790-459
CATEGORY: 2nd

CONGRATULATIONS!!! ONCE AGAIN

Actually you onratulated us last time so this would be the first.

This correspondence officially confirms that we are in receipt of your e-mail regarding the claim of your winnings value of ($150,000USD) One Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars. we want to let you know that you are the right winner and you have contacted the right office.

Well, that’s certainly a load off our mind.

We need the following information about you for re-confirmation

Full Name:
Address:
Mobile Number:
Marital Status:
Sex:
City:
State:
Country:
Zip Code:
Age:
Occupation:

This must be the low-budget version of the form, without the fancy lines.

You also chose to receive your winnings VIA DIPLOMATIC COURIER DELIVERY (CHECK).

Excuse us, what? We never chose VIA Diplomatic Courier Delivery(Check). We’d remember something like that.

In this method of courier service means, the courier company will deliver your check to your home address and you will receive it in 48hrs. You will be needed to provide the following information stated below:

No, slow down here. We have questions.

Receiver Name…………………….. …………………
Address………………….. ………………………… …..
Nationality………………. ………………………… …..
Postal Code…………………….. ………………………
City…………………….. ………………………… ………
State/Province……………. ………………………… …
Country………………….. ………………………… ….
Receiver mobile number: ………………………… .

So that’s where the line budget went.

Get back to me as soon as possible so that the processing of your Cheque can begin.

Regards,

Mr Markson Zuckerberg
Claims Officer Facebook Lottery Promo 2012.

Markson? What type of person would name their child Markson?

APPROVED BY

THE FACEBOOK TEAM

Something didn’t seem right. But, we decided to give them some information, just to see where things went. We also lodged a protest regarding the choice of courier services and provided a reasonable alternative.

From: Ellis Tyd; ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
To: facebooklotterypayment@ovi.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 4:57 PM
Subject: RE: WE NEED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT YOU TO PROCESS YOUR CHEQUE

Full Name: Ellis Tyd
Address: 1313 Ravenwood Ave
Mobile Number: Do not have- I am not allowed to use electronic devices like cell phones and computers since the ‘incident’
Marital Status: S
Sex: M
City: Los Angeles
State: Ohio
Country: Canada
Zip Code:1k2j3h
Age:87
Occupation: Spam Baiter

I also did NOT choose VIA DIPLOMATIC COURIER DELIVERY. I’ve dealt with them before and they are ridiculously expensive, not to mention completely unreliable. Just put the check in a box and send it FEDEX or UPS C.O.D. That will work better.

We received the following reply.

Subject: URGENTLY CONTACT THE FED-EX COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY VIA EMAIL ( fedexdeliverydepts2012@hotmail.com ) FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE
From: facebooklotterypayment@ovi.com
To: Ellis Tyd; ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
Date Sent: 1/14/2012 5:08:59 AM

 

 

 

 

They found some nice airplane pictures for us this time.

FACEBOOK LOTTERY PROMO 2012
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
BACTH NO: FBOL/009842/04.
REF. NO: FBOL/107654/04
TICKET NUMBER: W023-0148-790-459
CATEGORY: 2nd

MORE CONGRATULATION!!! Mr ELLIS TYD .This is according to the receipt of your email and we want to let you know that you are a rightful winner of $150,000.00USD in the ongoing FACE BOOK LOTTO PROMO 2012.Your Cheque of $150,000.00USD have been processed and it is now ready for delivery to this.

At this point, they seem to be actually reading the responses to a degree. Enough to pull the name out but not enough to get the overall meaning. We suspect that sarcasm does not travel well through Google translate or whatever they’re using.

Attached to this email is the scanned copy of your Cheque valued of $150,000.00USD and your winnings certificate of approval that you can now receive your winnings.

Ah, it looks like someone got a pirated copy of Photoshop for Kwanzaa.

We have packaged your Cheque and your winning Certificate and we have sent them to the FED-EX courier company who will deliver your package to you.You are required to contact the FED-EX courier company via email
( fedexdeliverydepts2012@hotmail.com ) so that they can tell you how they will post and deliver your package to you.

Again,we feel obliged to ask. If you were able to package the check and send it to FED-EX courier company, why didn’t you just send it to us directly. The post office would have found us. We gave you our address.

Contact FED-EX courier company via email (fedexdeliverydepts2012@hotmail.com ) as soon as possible so that your package will be delivered to you as soon as possible.More Congratulations,Mr Markson Zuckerberg your claims officer for the Face book Team.

Didn’t you tell them where to send it? Really, this is just so inefficient.

APPROVED BYTHE FACEBOOK TEAM

Well, that’s a very convincing and authentic looking certificate. Wouldn’t you agree?

And a check as well. Very convincing.

We didn’t answer right away, so they sent the email above a second time.

We sent the following to Frank Moore.

From: ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
To: fedexdeliverydepts2012@hotmail.com
Subject: Fw: URGENTLY CONTACT THE FED-EX COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY VIA EMAIL ( fedexdeliverydepts2012@hotmail.com ) FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:31:30 -0500

Full Name: Ellis Tyd
Address: 1313 Ravenwood Ave
Mobile Number: Do not have- I am not allowed to use electronic devices like cell phones and computers since the ‘incident’
Marital Status: S
Sex: M
City: Los Angeles
State: Ohio
Country: Canada
Zip Code:1k2j3h
Age:87

Frank got right back to us.

Subject: CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED OPTION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE KINGLY GET BACK TO US
From: frank moore
To: ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
Date Sent: 1/16/2012 7:29:57 AM

Kingly? You’re kinging, aren’t you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank felt obliged to add a FedEx logo to the plane collection.

Attn: Mr ELLIS TYD

Frank was able to read our name also.

How are you doing and your Family? Hope all is well over there, we highly welcome you to the Fed-Ex Courier Company where we deliver customer goods without complain.

Frank seems more friendly than Marc, Markson, what’s his name? 

In regards to the mail that we just received concerning your winnings from the Face Book management. I want you to know that you are rightful owner of this Cheque of $150,000.00USD and Attached to this email is the Approval Document from the Management of The FED-EX Courier Company Management and your Packaged Cheque, and Your Winning Certificate for you to see it.

Marc/Markson must have let Frank have his Photoshop disk.

Be informed that we have three ways of delivering goods and all valuable things to our Customers all over the World and also here are some tracking number’s of some of our customer’s which have been directed to us by the face book and we are happy to tell you we have delivered their winnings and the are living happily here are their package tracking number’s(554755880595714,86972 5568740,871363117841,860362679 693483,449386300611,8735900029 51) here is our web site which you can confirm the tracking number’s www.fedex.com/ Tracking .

The first tracking number shows that a package was safely delivered from Miami, FL to Oceoo, FL (see map) in just over a day. It’s a three-hour forty-four minute drive (with traffic) according to the map. One or two of the others show deliveries, but no detail and the rest show nothing at all. Not exactly awe-inspiring.

Below is the Delivery option we offer to our Customers

Premium Express (24hrs Delivery)
Mailing $200USD
Insurance $120USD
Vat $100USD
TOTAL $420.00USD

 ………………………… ………………………… ……….

Special Express (2 Days)
Mailing $100USD
Insurance $150USD
Vat $130USD
TOTAL $380USD

………………………… ………………………… …………….

Economy Express (3Days)
Mailing $100.00USD
Insurance $130USD
Vat (5%) $120USD
TOTAL $350USD

We inquired, last summer, about shipping a refrigerator from the west coast to the east cost of the US. It was going to cost $175 and that included having FedEx pack it. The figures supplied seemed a bit odd, especially the VAT as that is not generally collected in the United States, and especially not on shipments originating in Miami, even though Facebook is in Palo Alto. Something seems off and we don’t think it’s the cat’s milk.

Get back to us as soon as possible with the option you want so that the package will be delivered to you according to the option you choose.Regards,

Frank Moore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank enclosed some more pictures. A picture of an approval certificate and a picture of the package itself.

You might notice that the seal says “UNITED STATE PRSIDENT”. We were unaware of the President’s involvement. We though he had bigger things to mishandle.

 
 

This seems like a very bulky package to contain the paperwork and a check.

We felt obliged to press Frank for some more information, in spite of the nice FedEx logo he included in the email.

Subject: RE: CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED OPTION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE KINGLY GET BACK TO US
From: Ellis Tyd
To: ‘Frank moore’
Date Sent: 1/16/2012 9:20:45 AM

According to the tracking number that has a full trace, you’re shipping from Miami. Why are you trying to charge VAT? That’s a European concept, not American. Besides the US Post Office can deliver in the US much more cheaply since it’s only a check. And since it’s only a check why is the package in the picture so bulky looking? Something’s not right here.

This is what came back.

Subject: RE: CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED OPTION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE KINGLY GET BACK TO US
From: frank moore
To: ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
Date Sent: 1/17/2012 6:33:37 AM

The same three planes and FedEx log were here, with the WELCOME from earlier added on top of them.

Attn: Mr  ELLIS TYD

How are you doing and your Family? Hope all is well over there, we highly welcome you to the Fed-Ex Courier Company where we deliver customer goods without complain. In regards to the mail that we just received concerning your winnings from the Face Book management.Since you made this known to us that we are capable of Shipping your Package to your Door Step,we don,t have much time to spend on this delivery package.we are giving an executive order from our Protocol office that once you choose from this giving option and kindly make the payment from the Above option you choose from and make the payment to any bank via  western union money transfer once this payment is made kindly get back to us as soon as possible in other for us to make the shipment faster because all the document,winning certificate,and  cheque giving to us by Facebook Promotion office 2012 has being shipped to your country in canada as am talking to you now.

Note: Mr Ellis Tyd all you need to do now , kindly get to any bank near you via western union money transfer to make the payment out of the delivery Premium express you choose from and stay at home for your Package Delivery.

NOTABLE ADVICE:    urgent ” urgent” urgent”

The WELCOME, the three previous planes and this new one

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

were here, along with the big FedEx logo.

   
Attn: Mr Mr ELLIS TYD

The cut and paste seems to have gotten away from Frank.

We got you email and the option you Chose which is the Premium Express Delivery is the fastest way to receive your package. Attached to the option you will have to pay the delivery fee of $420USD so that your package will be delivered to you as soon as possible.

We are at a loss as to how our suggestion that they simply mail the check lead them to believe that we had chosen the most expensive form of shipment.

Mr Ellis Tyd you will be required to send the $420USD through Western Union Money Transfer so that it can be received here by me and here is the information you will use to send the $420USD below:

It seems that Frank Moore is also know about the village as Tayo Johnson.

Receiver’s Name: Tayo Johnson
City: City
State: Lagos
Country: Nigeria
Zip Code: 23401
Text Question: Color
Text Answer: Blue

And there’s the word we’ve been waiting for — Nigeria. Once again, we’re safely back in Africa.

As soon as you finish sending the 420USD, Send me the following details about the transfer stated below:

Sender’s Name:
Sender’s Address:
Money Transfer Control Number (Mtcn):
Amount Sent:

Once i receive this information from you i will use it to receive the $420USD you have sent. As soon as i receives the $420USD, Your package will be posted to you immediately and you will receive it in 24hrs with no extra charges.

Right.

Mr Ellis Tyd
get back to me and tell me when you will be sending the $420USD fee for the delivery of your package to you so that i can inform the delivery team to get ready to deliver your Package to you and if you don’t understand anything in this email ask me questions.

Regards,

Frank moore

Frank, may call you Frank? Frank, let’s be frank. There’s so much here we don’t understand that we frankly don’t know where to begin. We do, however, have a fairly good idea as to where we should end – but not quite yet.

We responded with this.

From: ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
To: fedexdeliverydepts2012@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED OPTION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE KINGLY GET BACK TO US
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:47:34 -0500

I’m a little lost here. Facebook is in California, United States of America. You mentioned Holland and London before, which didn’t make any sense either. The tacking numbers show packages mailed from Miami, Florida, also in the United States of America. Why are you suddenly in Nigeria.

Facebook seems like a well run company. Why are they being so stupid with this?

Just put it in the mail. It’s a check.

Have someone in Facebook’s publicity department get in touch with me. Maybe they can explain it.

This last response caused Frank to improvise. He doesn’t seem that adept at that particular skill.

Subject: RE: CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED OPTION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE KINGLY GET BACK TO US
From: frank moore
To: ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
Date Sent: 1/17/2012 8:45:33 AM

Hello Mr Ellis Tyd The Facebook payment officer has tripped to west africa in the motherless babies home as you no Facebook is to help people we had economic resources is to poor in west Africa that is why we choose to go the render some assistant.

We fail to see why the idiot felt it necessary to take our check with him. If he wants to trip to west africa on his own dime we have no issues. Are motherless babies similar to orphans or is some strange next step in evolution taking place in Africa?

NOTE: This package was handed over to the FedEx  company because FedEx has being Operated all over the federation to delivery there Facebook Lottery Package.so kindly get back to us for the delivery option as soon as Possible.

Thanks

The Facebook Lottery Team.

Fine, even if the package was given to FedEx, why did they wait until they got to Africa to do it. If they left it with FedEx in Palo Alto, or better still just shipped it from the Facebook headquarters, they would have had so much more room in their luggage and maybe even have avoided a $25 bag fee which could have been donated to the motherless babies’ home.

We’ve had enough fun with Frank so we sent him one final email.

Subject: RE: CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED OPTION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE KINGLY GET BACK TO US
From: ellistyd@howtospotafraud.com
To: ‘frank moore’
Date Sent: 1/17/2012 9:14:21 AM

I just talked to someone at Facebook and they don’t know anything about this lottery. I think we’re done here.

Ellis Tyd

We know, bad us, we lied to Frank. To be fair, we feel that Frank may have been less than truthful for his part.

In fact we have no qualms about stating that Marc/Marc/Markson and Frank collectively are a FRAUD.

That is all. Unless we hear back from Frank et. al.