Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

"Francois Pinault" Donation Scam: Do Not Be Fooled

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Dec 9, 2018 2018-12-09T15:39:55-05:00
Apr 8, 2020 2020-04-08T10:34:31-05:00

Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Francois Pinault Donation Scam Do Not Be Fooled

Online users, be aware of the "Francois Pinault" donation scam below. The scam is being sent by scammers who are attempting to trick their potential victims into sending them money. Francois Pinault, a French billionaire businessman and art collector, would never send emails to random individuals around the world requesting personal information or ask them to send money in order to receive a donation from him.

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Remember, never send money or personal information if you are asked to do so in order to receive a donation or lottery prize. This is how scammers steal their potential victims' information, and how they steal their victims' money.

The "Francois Pinault" Donation Scam

Von: "Lyashchun, Vasyl" - VLYASHCHUN@NCH.ORG
Datum: 09.12.18 21:08 (GMT+01:00)
An:
Betreff: RE:
Hi, A donation was made in your favor by Francois Pinault. Reply to this email: ( mrfrapin@gmail.com ) for more details.

Recipients of the same email are asked to delete it and should not follow the instructions in it.

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Comments 39

Nov 22, 2024 at 6:02 PM by an anonymous user from: Davidson County, Nashville, Tennessee, United States

It's 2024 and this is the second email I've got from dude!

Thanks scammers, go away now

Dec 9, 2022 at 12:16 AM by an anonymous user from: Eti Osa, Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Good morning everyone please someone here should help me to report this below email, someone pretend to be Mrs Charlotte trying to steal my money...

Jan 21, 2022 at 2:28 PM by an anonymous user from: Burlington County, Southampton Township, New Jersey, United States

I received the Francois P. email about a donation as well. I replied " ... you have the wrong email address ... " I then received a long email explaining why I was picked to receive a more than $7M USD donation under my name to give away to the needy in my area. I was not asked for money (yet) but was asked for personal information (not an SSN or a bank acct -- just general info like Name, Address, Country, Age, Gender, Marital Status, Occupation and Phone #). Suffice it to say, I deleted this longer message w/o replying.

Dec 28, 2021 at 9:32 AM by an anonymous user from: Centretown-Downtown, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I found the email "francoispinault03-outlook.com" associated with another scam that was sent from "lazaro.santos-pmsj.ba.gov.br". This scam had a Subject of "re" and an absolutely bizarre From address displayed ("=?utf-8?b?IkZyYW7Dp29pcyBQaW5hdWx0IiA8bGF6YXJvLnNhbnRvc0BwbXNqLmJhLmdv?="-mail.pmsj.ba.gov.br).

The email itself was:

$3.5 Million Has Been Donated To You,By François Pinault due to the covid-19 pandemic this is Real Get back For More Info

WhatsApp: 447452035105 ...

Dec 21, 2021 at 4:14 AM by an anonymous user from: Monroe, Louisiana, United States

Is it even worth finding and locating sender?

Jun 12, 2021 at 6:15 PM by info

"From: Maureen Harness (ADE)
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2021 1:27:22 AM
To: Maureen Harness (ADE)
Subject: RE: Offer!

A donation is made to you by Mr. François Pinault. Reply Via Email: [ mr.francospt-outlook.com ] for more details.

Sincerely,
Mr. François Pinault"

Here is another scam.

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