The Google Email Lottery International scam is a classic example of a phishing scheme, designed to trick unsuspecting victims into divulging their personal information or even sending money to scammers. While the email may seem like a golden opportunity, it’s important to recognize the red flags and protect yourself from becoming a victim. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at this scam, its warning signs, and steps you can take to avoid falling for it.
What is the Google Email Lottery International scam?
The Google Email Lottery International scam starts with an email claiming that the recipient has won a large sum of money, such as $800,000, in a lottery organized by Google. The email typically includes a subject line like “Re: You have won $800,000.00 (Eight hundred thousand US Dollars Only).”
Here is the text of this email scam:
Subject: Re: You have won $800,000.00 (Eight hundred thousand US Dollars Only)
To: google.lott@hotmail.com
GOOGLE EMAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
***********************************************DEAR WINNER,
RESULTS FOR CATEGORY “A” DRAWS
Congratulations to you as a winner of GOOGLE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
2023 (NO TICKETS SOLD).
To file for your claim. Please contact google.lott@hotmail.comSend your information to tag with your payment file.
1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Occupation:
4. Age:
5. Sex:
6. Nationality:
7. Country You Now Live:
8. Mobile/Home Number:
Congratulations once again!!!
Ana Corrales,
Chief Operating Officer
Google International
E-mail: google.lott@hotmail.com
(_845) 412-4000_
The above email is a scam. The are several red flags that should immediately alert you to the fraudulent nature of this email.
One of the most apparent warning signs is the suspicious sender’s email address. The email asks the recipient to reply to an email address with a Hotmail domain (e.g., google.lott@hotmail.com), which is inconsistent with a legitimate Google email address. Legitimate Google emails would have a “@google.com” domain.
Moreover, the email lacks personalization and does not address the recipient by name. Instead, it uses a generic greeting such as “DEAR WINNER.” This indicates that the scammer is sending the same message to a large number of people, hoping to ensnare a few victims.
Another red flag is the poor grammar and spelling found in the email. This is not characteristic of a professional communication from a reputable company like Google.
Additionally, the email asks the recipient to provide a wide range of personal information, including their full name, address, occupation, age, sex, nationality, and contact details. Legitimate companies would not ask for such information via email.
The email also claims that the lottery has taken place without any tickets being sold, which is illogical and a clear indication of a scam.
Lastly, the email provides a phone number with an area code that does not match Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, further indicating that the communication is not legitimate.
How to Protect Yourself
To protect yourself, it’s essential to be skeptical and always approach unsolicited emails claiming that you’ve won a large sum of money with caution. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
If you receive an email from a seemingly reputable company like Google, verify the source by checking the sender’s email address for inconsistencies and visiting the company’s official website for information on any ongoing promotions or contests.
Never provide your personal information, especially sensitive data like your Social Security number or bank account details, in response to unsolicited emails.
Make sure your email provider has spam filters enabled to catch suspicious emails and prevent them from reaching your inbox.
Lastly, if you receive a scam email, report it to the appropriate authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your country’s equivalent agency, as well as the company being impersonated.
Check Your Device for Malware
The Google Email Lottery International Email Scam can distribute malware or redirect to other malicious sites, if you suspect your device is infected with malware, you can scan it for free with Malwarebytes. To check your computer or phone for Trojans, browser hijackers, or other malware and remove them for free, run a scan with Malwarebytes Free.
Malwarebytes runs on Windows, Mac, and Android. Click the tab below for the device you want to scan, then follow the steps to remove any malware it finds.
Scan Your Computer with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost-
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
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Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
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Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
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When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
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On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
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Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
Done? Click “Dashboard” in the left pane to return to the main screen.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
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Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
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Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, Malwarebytes has finished removing the threats it found.
That’s it — your Windows computer is now free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Run a computer scan with ESET Online Scanner
- Ask for help in our Windows Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan Your Mac with Malwarebytes for Mac
Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss — adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your Mac in just a few minutes.
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Download Malwarebytes for Mac
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for macOS. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes PremiumMalwarebytes Free for MacScans and removes malware at no cost -
Open the Malwarebytes setup file
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.
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Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.
When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.
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Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”
Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
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Start the Scan
Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
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Wait for the Scan to Finish
Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
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Restart Your Mac
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot — if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, your Mac is clean.
That’s it — your Mac is now free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan Your Phone with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
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Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
Get Malwarebytes for AndroidOpens Google Play in a new tab.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium for AndroidMalwarebytes for AndroidScans your phone and removes malware at no cost -
Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
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Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options.
This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue.
Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step.
Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue.
Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
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Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
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Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
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Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
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Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
That’s it — your Android device is now free of malicious apps, adware, and browser redirects.
If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
- Ask for help in our Mobile Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
The Google Email Lottery International email scam preys on the excitement of potential lottery winnings to steal personal information. Be vigilant when receiving unsolicited emails claiming you have won a lottery, and always verify the sender’s legitimacy before providing any personal information. By taking these precautions, you can safeguard yourself from the Google Email Lottery International email scam and other similar scams.
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