This document describes the Internet giveaway hoaxes. These letters go into great detail describing the prizes you will receive from some big company if you just forward this message to everyone you know. What they neglect to describe is how the big company has even a clue that you have sent on these messages to anyone let alone the reason they would be willing to bankroll such an open-ended give away.
Circulating the Internet since November 1997, is a chain letter hoax claiming to be from the office of the chief executive of Microsoft Corporation. Although there are special variants, they all claim to be from Bill Gates and merely ask the receiver to forward the letter to other people. If an attachment comes with this message, we recommend you delete it at once. DO NOT take any unnecessary chances with attachments from unknown sources.
FROM: GatesBeta@microsoft.com ATTACH: Tracklog@microsoft.com/Track883432/~TraceActive/On.html Hello Everyone, And thank you for signing up for my Beta Email Tracking Application or (BETA) for short. My name is Bill Gates. Here at Microsoft we have just compiled an e-mail tracing program that tracks everyone to whom this message is forwarded to. It does this through an unique IP (Internet Protocol) address log book database. We are experimenting with this and need your help. Forward this to everyone you know and if it reaches 1000 people everyone on the list you will receive $1000 and a copy of Windows98 at my expense. Enjoy. Note: Duplicate entries will not be counted. You will be notified by email with further instructions once this email has reached 1000 people. Windows98 will not be shipped unitl it has been released to the general public. Your friend, Bill Gates & The Microsoft Development Team.
August 1998 - Here's a new twist to the Bill Gates Chain Letter Hoax. This one concerns a giveaway by Disney. Walt Disney Company IS NOT responsible for any of the information contained in this chain letter.
Disney Worldwide Services: "There is no such product or offer made by Disney."
Hello Disney fans, And thank you for signing up for Bill Gates' Beta Email Tracking. My name is Walt Disney Jr. Here at Disney we are working with Microsoft which has just compiled an e-mail tracing program that tracks everyone to whom this message is forwarded to. It does this through an unique IP (Internet Protocol) address log book database. We are experimenting with this and need your help. Forward this to everyone you know and if it reaches 13,000 people, 1,300 of the people on the list will receive $5,000, and the rest will receive a free trip for two to Disney World for one week during the summer of 1999 at our expense. Enjoy. Note: Duplicate entries will not be counted. You will be notified by email with further instructions once this email has reached 13,000 people. Your friends, Walt Disney Jr., Disney, Bill Gates & The Microsoft Development Team.
August 1999 - And, another twist to the Bill Gates Chain Letter Hoax. This one has banks giving away money so that summers can be more fun. Again, there is no mail tracking program that can be attached to an e-mail message.
Need some extra cash for the summer? It is really very simple. Attached to this message is a tracking program. For every person you to, you earn $10.00. For every person they send it to, you get $5.00, and so on. Basically, the more people you send this to, the more cash you earn. This is funded by national banks everywhere, who believe that summers should be fun, and want to help children and young adults learn to manage money. As you can see, all you need to to as many people as you can. From a week to a month later, you will receive a check in the mail for however much money you earned by sending this, and how many people they sent it to. Good luck, and await the check! Hello, my name is Betsy. This really works, please don?t delete it! If you choose not to read it, at least send it to people so that they can have a chance. I got this e*mail and tried it. Exactly a week later, I received a check for $180.00! It was perfect timing, I?m going to Florida soon and really need the extra cash. Thanks sooo much for sending this to me, I hope someone else out there turns out as happy as I did!
April 1999: On April 14, 1999 the Miller Brewing Company issued a press releases that states that the chain letter listed here is indeed a hoax. The claim to track e-mail is very similar to the Bill Gate's e-mail tracking tool hoax: Bill Gates Hoax
Hello: We here at Miller Brewing Company, Inc. would like to help bring in the new millennium for everyone. We like to think of ourselves as a progressive company, keeping up with our customers. We have found the best way to do this via the Internet and email. Combining these things, we would like to make a special offer to our valued customers: If this email makes it to 2,000,000 people by 12:00 PM on New Year's Eve of 1999, we will send a coupon for one six-pack of any of our Miller Brand beverages. In the event that 2,000,000 people are reached, our tracker/counter, embedded in this message, will report to us with the list of names and email addresses. Thereafter, each email address will be sent an electronic coupon which you can print out and redeem at any Miller Brand beverage carrying store. The coupons will be sent as soon as 2,000,000 people are reached, so the sooner, the better. Enjoy, and Cheers, Gary D. Anderson, Chief Marketing Director Miller Brewing Company, Inc. http://www.millerbrewing.com
May 1999: And yet another twist to the Bill Gates Chain Letter Hoax. This one claims that Netscape and AOL will send you money. It also mentions the Microsoft tracking system that does not exist.
Netscape and AOL have recently merged to form the largest internet company in the world. In an effort to remain at pace with this giant, Microsoft has introduced a new email tracking system as a way to keep Internet Explorer as the most popular browser on the market. This email is a beta test of the new software and Microsoft has generously offered to compensate those who participate in the testing process. For each person you send this email to, you will be given $5. For every person they give it to, you will be given an additional $3. For every person they send it to you will receive $1. Microsoft will tally all the emails produced under your name over a two week period and then email you with more instructions. This beta test is only for Microsoft Windows users because the email tracking device that contacts Microsoft is embedded into the code of Windows 95 and 98. I know you guys hate forwards. But I started this a month ago because I was very short on cash. A week ago I got an email from Microsoft asking me for my address. I gave it to them and yesterday I got a check in the mail for $800. It really works. I wanted you to get a piece of the action. You won't regret it.
May 1999
A beta test of a clothing line? I don't think so. This hoax claims that the GAP will give you clothing if you pass the message on, but is just another variant of the Bill Gates hoax.
Subject: FW: FREE clothes from GAP Everyone loves free stuff! Abercrombie & Fitch have recently merged to form the largest hottie outfitter company in the world! In an effort to remain at pace with this giant, the GAP has introduced a new email tracking system to determine who has the most loyal followers. This email is a beta test of the new clothing line and GAP has generously offered to compensate those who participate in testing process. For each person you send this e-mail to, you will be given a pair of cargo pants. For every person they give it to, you will be given an additional Hawaiian print T-shirt, for every person they send it to, you will recieve a fishermans hat! GAP will tally all the emails produced under your name over a two week period and then email you with more instructions. This beta test is only for Microsoft Windows users because the email tracking device that contacts GAP is embedded into the code of Windows 95 and 98. If you wish to speed up the "clothes receiving process" then you can email the GAP's P.R. rep for a free list of email addresses to try, at....gollygap@yahoo.com (this was forwarded to me, it's not me saying this...) I know you guys hate forwards, but I started this a month ago. A week ago, I got an email from the GAP asking me for my address I gave it to them yesterday and I got a box load of mechandise in the mail from the GAP!!!!! It really works! I wanted you to get a piece of the action, you won't regret it
November 1999
Not satisfied with one GAP giveaway hoax, another followed in November. This one is supposedly signed by the founder of GAP.
Subject: FREE Gap gift certificates Hi! My name is Janelle McCan, Founder of the Gap. You have probably heard about the e-mail from Abercrombie and Fitch offering twenty five-dollar gift certificates to every five people you sent that letter to. My question is: DID IT WORK? Most of you who tried it will probably say NO. But this letter is NOT a prank like others you have experienced. I am offering thirty-five dollar gift certificates to every seven people you send this to. When you have finished sending this letter to as many people as you wish, a screen will come up. It will tell you how much you have earned in Gap gift certificates. Print that screen out and bring it to your local Gap store. The sales clerk will give you your certificates and you can SHOP BABY! This is a sales promotion to get our name out to young people around the world. We believe this project can be a success, but only with your help. Thank you for your support! Sincerely, Janelle McCan Founder of Gap
June 1999
In this variant of the Bill Gates hoax, IBM is giving away computers. If you look at the wording, this one is almost identical to the GAP giveaway hoax above.
Subject: Free Computer Equipment!!! Date: Monday, June 28, 1999 6:35 PM Hey, I just wanted to let you guys know about this great new PC I just got from IBM! Hewlett-Packard and Gateway have just merged to form the biggest computer supplier in the world! Bigger than Dell, bigger than IBM, bigger than them all! In response to this amazing merger, IBM has set aside 250,000 free computers to reward and keep it's most loyal and trusted customers! I've already got mine, read on to see how you can get yours!!! This email has a special encoding which will let IBM know every time you send it to one of your friends or relatives. The first 250,000 people who send this to at least 15 of their friends will receive a brand new IBM computer! After you send this to your friends, and qualify, IBM will contact you via email, and get your shipping address. Send them your address, and in a couple of days, a brand new computer, complete with printer, and 19" monitor is sitting on your doorstep! You must hurry, because this offer ends July 31 of this year! Here's the catch, though. Each of your friends must send this to at least 5 people or you won't be eligible, so choose your friends wisely! Remember, a true friend will send this along for you! That's all it takes,no strings attached! No purchase necessary!!! You don't even have to have previously purchased a computer from IBM! They want to earn or keep your future business, and they're willing to pay for it!!!
February 2000
Here Coca-Cola is supposed to be giving away cases of coke. After you send the e-mails, a screen is supposed to pop up to ask you where you want the Coke sent. You might ask yourself how can Coca-cola know where you have sent this e-mail and how can they take control of your computer and make a screen come up? It's not going to happen.
Coca-Cola is offering four free cases of diet coke or regular coke to every person you send this to. When you have finished sending this e-mail to as many people as you wish, a screen will come up. It will then ask where you want your free coke products sent. This is a sales promotion to get our name out to young people around the world. We believe this project can be a success, but only with your help. So please start e-mailing and help us build our database. Thank you for your support! Always Coca-Cola, Mike Hill Director of Marketing Coca-Cola Corporation Atlanta, Georgia www.cocacola.com
October 1999
Listed below is another giveaway hoax. This one has Microsoft and AOL merged and giving away money if you send this message to everyone you know. It even includes a testimonial.
Date: Thursday, October 07, 1999 10:56 AM Subject: Broadcast: Microsoft and AOL Merger FROM: xxxx COMPANY: RE/MAX Commercial Services, Inc. Subject: Microsoft and AOL Merger I am forwarding this because the person who sent it to me is a good friend and does not send me junk. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet company and in an effort make sure that Internet explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail beta test. When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft can and will track it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period. For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $245.00, for every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243.00 and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact you for your address and then send you a check. I thought this was a scam myself, but two weeks after receiving this e-mail and forwarding it on, Microsoft contacted me for my e-mail and within days, I received a check for $24800.00. Brent Jones FCG Inc. Wayne PA 610 225 6787 bjones@fcg.com
And here is another variant from April 2002
Dear Friends, Please do not take this for a junk letter. Bill Gates is sharing his fortune. If you ignore this you will repent later. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail beta test. When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft can and will track it(if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period. For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $245.00, for every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243.00 and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact you for your address and then send you a cheque. Regards. Chinu! I thought this was a scam myself, but two weeks after receiving this e-mail and forwarding it on, Microsoft contacted me for my address and within days, I received a cheque for US$24,800.00. You need to respond before the beta testing is over. If anyone can afford this Bill Gates is the man. It's all marketing expense to him. Please forward this to as many people as possible. You are bound to get at least US$10,000.00
July 2002
Here is another variant of the Microsoft - AOL merger hoax but this time they are telling you that you have won and a check is in the mail. This mail contains a lot of goofy tax information that will likely push people to contact the person listed in the message. Unfortunately, the phone number goes to a telemarketing firm that sells supplements. The e-mail address goes to lycos.com instead of microsoft.com. The address in Washington DC does not exist. The only good advice in the message is to not start spending your winnings yet.
From: MSN Disbursement [mailto:msn-disbursement-011@lycos.com] Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 2:27 PM To: MSN-List28608A@WebData.NET Subject: E-Mail Beta Test Payment Notification Importance: High Attention E-Mail Beta Test Participants: This is a preliminary notification that the "Bill Gates E-Mail Beta Test" has been completed. Compensation for participation of Beta Test Group 9563-K-17 is currently under review and analysis, and is estimated at $28,022 per person in your control group. Disbursement processing may take up to 8 weeks. Final payments, if made, shall be electronically transmitted via e-mail and shall include an encrypted payment voucher from WebCheck-USA LLP. Please be advised that all unearned income is taxable. As required by U.S. law under SB-573Y-1999-GHR-45AQ, records of all disbursements greater than $0.49 shall be transmitted by our staff to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service via an electronic W2. There will be no taxes withheld. Responsibility for full payment of U.S. Federal and State income taxes for the 2002 calendar year rests solely with the participants. NOTICE: Be also advised that the acceptance of unearned income from this Beta Test may result in tax liabilities significantly higher than the compensation actually received, since all members of the Beta Test Group will each be individually responsible for the unpaid tax liabilities, penalties, and interest of the entire Beta Test Group for seven calendar years (per McCain-Kennedy U.S. Senate Resolution 652R-22MA-02, approved at 2:39 AM EST on 16 April 2002). The total Beta Test tax liability for individual participants will be capped at $87,500 per calendar year, with a $575,000 lifetime limit. Failure to submit the mandated tax payment upon demand may result in the forfeiture of earned employment income (limited to 51%), and the seizure of all real property (including all residential and commercial real estate, all contents and materials located on said real estate, plus all vehicles, stocks, bonds, and bank accounts). DO NOT INCREASE YOUR SPENDING OR ASSUME YOU WILL RECEIVE A CHECK. AUDIT VERIFICATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS TIME. FINAL AUDITING MAY RESULT IN COMPLETE DENIAL OF COMPENSATION WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNET TRACKING PROTOCOL STATUTE 01-0FGOEUR7563-OOKTRHF83 AS APPROVED BY THE UNITED NATIONS ON 21 FEBRUARY 2001 IN GENEVA, ITALY; MULTIPLE E-MAIL ADDRESSES DETERMINED TO BE LEGALLY REGISTERED TO THE SAME INDIVIDUAL OR DOUBLE TRANSMISSIONS ORIGINATING FROM A SINGLE ISP ADDRESS MAY RESULT IN COMPLETE DENIAL OF COMPENSATION TO THE ENTIRE BETA TEST GROUP. If you have any questions, you may e-mail me by hitting "reply", or call my staff directly at this toll-free number: 1-888-568-7813. Thank you. J. Henry Lindell, Senior Analyst II Disbursements Division - MSN Internet Tracking Systems International 2645 E. 67th Street Washington, DC 20012 Reference: ------------------------------------------------------- RE: This is for real. It was on the news last night: BILL GATES IS SHARING HIS FORTUNE. Dear Friends, Please do not take this for a junk letter. Bill Gates is sharing his fortune. If you ignore this you will repent later. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in Internet Explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail beta test. When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft can and will track it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period. For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $245.00, for every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243.00 and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact you for your address and then send you a check.
December 1999
This hoax has Intel and AOL merged and giving away money. It is supposedly written by an attorney who "knows the law." Of sourse, he does not give you his name so you can check him out. However, it does give the e-mail address of his "brother's girlfriend" who is eager to answer your questions. I suspect that jpiltman has had all the e-mail she can stand.
Subject: Real Money I'm an attorney, and I know the law. This thing is for real. Rest assured AOL and Intel will follow through with their promises for fear of facing an multimillion dollar class action suit similar to the one filed by Pepsico against General Electric not too long ago. I'll be damned if we're all going to help them out with their e-mail beta test without getting a little something for our time. My brother's girlfriend got in on this a few months ago. When I went to visit him for the Baylor/UT game she showed me her check. It was for the sum of $4,324.44 and was stamped "Paid In Full". Like I said before, I know the law, and this is for real. If you don't believe me you can e-mail her at jpiltman@baylor.edu. She's eager to answer any questions you guys might have. This is not a joke. I am forwarding this because the person who sent it to me is a good friend and does not send me junk. Intel and AOL are now discussing a merger which would make them the largest Internet company and in an effort make sure that AOL remains the most widely used program, Intel and AOL are running an e-mail beta test. When you forward this e-mail to friends, Intel can and will track it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period. For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $203.15, for every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $156.29 and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $17.65. Within two weeks,Intel will contact you for your address and then send you a check. I thought this was a scam myself, but a friend of my good friend's Aunt Patricia, who works at Intel actually got a check for $4,543.23 by forwarding this e-mail. Try it, what have you got to lose????
What have you got to lose indeed; just the respect of anyone you forward this to.
April 2000:
Listed below is another giveaway hoax. Since there's a hoax letter that is giving away Nokia phones, someone wrote one for Ericsson. Please see: http://www.ericsson.com/about/publications/kon_con/contact/cont16_00/briefo.shtml.
----- Dear customer Our main competitor, Nokia, is giving free mobile phones away on the Internet. Here at Ericsson we want to counter their offer. So we are giving our newest WAP-phones away as well. They are specially developed for Internet happy customers who value cutting edge technology. By giving free phones away, we get valuable customer feedback and a great Word-of-Mouth effect. All you have to do, is to forward this message to 8 friends. After two weeks delivery time, you will receive a Ericsson T18. If you forward it to 20 friends, you will receive the brand new Ericsson R320 WAP-phone. Just remember to send a copy to Anna.Swelund@ericsson.com <mailto:Anna.Swelund@ericsson.com< <<mailto:Anna.Swelund@ericsson.com <mailto:Anna.Swelund@ericsson.com< << - that is the only way we can see, that you forwarded the message. Best of luck Anna Swelund Executive Promotion Manager for Ericsson Marketing Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved. Reproduction, transfer, distribution or storage of part or all of the contents in any form without the prior written permission of Ericsson is prohibited except in accordance with the following terms. Ericsson consents to you browsing Ericsson World Wide Web pages on you computer or WAP-phone and printing copies of these pages for private use only. --
This chain letter is cute; however it was circulated to thousands of Internet users. Note that the American Cancer Society does not donate to cancer research but is donated to. Note also the poor person at AOL who gets a CC of every forward of this message.
For cancer research...Tickle me! :-)
Elmo
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For every new person that this is passed on to The American Cancer
Society will donate 3 cents to cancer research. Please help us.
Forward this to everyone you know. Also add to your list ACS@aol.com
Thanks for helping!!
November 1999
This chain letter claims that Old Navy will give you a gift certificate if you pass this message on to 10 people.
Fw: OLD NAVY GIFT CARD DEAR OLD NAVY SHOPPER, I AM LAURA THIMIS, THE FOUNDER OF OLD NAVY. AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN SOME PRMOTION THINGS GOING ON WITH ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH AND THE GAP. NOW I WANT TO BE PART OF THE INTERNET PRMOTION "GIG". FOR EVERY 10 PEOPLE THAT YOU SEND THIS TO, YOU GET A FREE $25.00 GIFT CARD FOR ANY OLD NAVY STORE, IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, FROM THE U S A TO CHINA, FROM ICELAND TO PARIS!! MAKE SURE THAT YOU SEND THIS TO LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE!!!! AFTER YOU SEND THIS TO AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE, YOU WILL RECIVE YOUR FREE OLD NAVY GIFT CARD IN 2-4 WEEKS!!!! WATCH THE MAIL!
November 1999
This chain letter claims that J.Crew will give you a free gift worth $50 if you send this to ten people. Of course, this is total nonsense.
Hello readers! My name is Robert Crensman. I am sure you are all well aware of the free offerings made from Gap and the free gift certificates offered from Abercrombie and Fitch. I am the Senior President of J.Crew, and I am offering a great deal in compliance to these other great offers. For every ten people you forward this two, your AOL screen name will receive an online J.Crew gift certificate worth fifty dollars. There is no limit to how many people you can send this to. This is simply an online promotion to increase the usage of our internet website. We appreciate your help in passing on this letter. Thank you for your support! Feel free to visit our online store at http://www.jcrew.com Sincerely, Robert Crensman Senior President of J.Crew
November 1999
This chain letter claims that Bath & Body Works will send you a $50 gift certificate if you send this to 13 people.
Hi. I am, Michele Cordova, the founder of Bath & Body Works and I want your business. We are trying a new advertising campaign through the power of YOU, the consumer. In order for this to work, you need to send this e-mail to 13 people and I know that is not a lucky number but that is the number we need in order for this to work. Our computer tracking system will keep count of how many people you send it to so don't feel like you have to send it to thirteen people all at once. You may not send it to the same person more than once unless you internet pals accidently delete the message, we wouldn't want them to miss out on this great offer. To compensate you for your hard work, we are going to send you a $50 dollar gift certificate redeemable in any store nationwide. This is not a joke, it will be your loss if you don't send this to 13 PEOPLE. Thanks again! Michele Cordova Founder of Bath & Body Works
November 1999
This chain letter claims was probably done by the same person who did the Bath & Body Works chain. It makes nearly the same offer and Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works are both part of the same company.
Subject: Fw: Victoria Secret Gift Certificate My name is Victoria Johnson, founder of Victoria's Secret. In an attempt to get our name out to more people in the rural communities where we are not currently located we are offering a $50 gift certificate to anyone who forwards this email to 9 of their friends. Just send this email to them and you will recieve a an email back with a confirmation number to claim your gift certificate. Sincerely Victoria Johnson Founder of Victoria's Secret Hey guys, DONT DELETE THIS EMAIL It really works, I tried it and got my Gift certificate confirmation number in 3 minutes.
November 1999
This chain letter claims that Columbia House will send you a CD for everyone you send this message to. It is curious that they ask you to send a copy of this message to Cyberpromotions@n2music.com a free e-mail site. I doubt that a company the size of Columbia House would have to use a free e-mail site for a promotion. They would use a columbiahouse.com address.
Hi. My name is Richard Douche. I am the president of the Cyber Promotions for Columbia House. We are in a fierce competition with companies such as Amazon.com and Music Blvd, among many others. Because of this, I have been authorized to offer 10+ free cd's of your choice to any person who participates in our promotion. We at Columbia House understand that your time is very important to you, and that you don't want to have to fill out a form and mail it to us. With this in mind, we have developed a simplistic way for anyone who receives this email to participate. All you have to do is send this message on to your friends! Yes, it is that simple. Now you are wondering how many CDs you get, and how to get them. It all depends on how many people you send this message to. You are required to send this email to the address below to receive your first 10 CDs. Cyberpromotions@n2music.com In addition, you get another CD for every person you forward this to. For example, if you send this to Cyber Promotions, along with 10 of your friends, you would receive a total of 20 CDs. Remember to send this to Cyber Promotions or you WON'T RECEIVE YOUR CDS!! We will email you back promptly asking for your CD selections. Again, thank you for your participation!! Richard Douche President, Cyber Promotions
This chain letter claims that M & Ms will give out a case of candy if this message reaches 2000 people.
Subject: Have some fun-this is not a hoax.
Hi. My name is Jeffrey Newieb. I am a marketing analyst for M & Ms
chocolate candies based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. As the year 2000 approaches,
we want to be the candy of the millennium - As you may already know, the
roman numeral for Y2K is M&M. We are asking you to pass on this e-mail to 5
friends. Our tracking device is calculating how many e-mails you send out.
Everytime it reaches 2000 people, you will receive a free case individual
(55 gram packs) of delicious M & M candies. That means the more people it
reaches, the more candy you're going to get. Mmmmmm ... yummy M & M's for
the year 2000!
September 1999
This chain letter claims that Honda will give you a new car if it gets forwarded to enough people. Honda had a notice at their website indicating that this is totally false.
Subject: Fw: New Wheels! Please forward this ... (fwd) First off, I just want everyone to know that this is the real thing. I forwarded this message to everyone I know about 6 months ago and last week a Honda employee showed up at my house with my brand new 1999 Civic EX!!! It is so funny because I never believed these things worked and actually I sent this one as a joke to all my friends. But they forwarded the message too and now I have received a new car!!! My best friend actually hasn't gotten his car just yet but he checked the balance of his Honda Account and it has reached nearly $11,000!!! If you like Honda's or you just want a new car, please forward this message it is the real thing. Bob Stanley, Denver Colorado Friends, Look I know this sounds too good to be true, and that's what I thought too. But I called Honda's headquarters in Japan and spoke to an American representative myself and it really is true! They assured me that this the real thing! I still wasn't convinced but I called three weeks later and my Honda account balance has reached the unbelievable sum of $12,500!!! So even if you don't believe this, forward it anyway so my account will continue to grow until I get my brand new Prelude!!! Steve Kelly, Minneapolis Minnessota Dear valued potential customers: Here at Honda we have been well known for over 20 years for providing the best in reliabillity, comfort, and style. Over the years we have risen to be one of the top auto industries here in Japan. But that isn't enough. We want to be number one in the US. Now our twentieth anniversary for making cars is here!!! This is the perfect opportunity for you and us here at Honda to celebrate our 20 years of excellent service. We have been trying to think of ideas to get more people to know about our cars. And with technology and e-mail being the wave of the future, we want to jump on this opportunity. So we have set up a rewards system to repay those who help us spread the word about Honda. Our marketing staff has designed a special program that traces this message as it travels across the US. Anyone who forwards this e-mail, will immediately have an account at their local Honda dealer opened in their name. This account will initially be opened with a credit of $1,000 toward any new or used vehicle at their participating dealership. For each person you forward this e-mail to, the amount of $200 will be added to your account. If the recipients of this e-mail forward it you will be rewarded an additional $100 for each person it reaches and if they also forward it your account continues to grow in $100 increments. You can log onto our website at http://www.Honda.com to check the balance of your account. If things go well and everyone participates you should see your account grow quite quickly. Follow the on screen instructions to order the specific make and model of Honda you want to buy with your account. We hope that this is a rewarding experience for you and us. Our goal is to reach over 1 million computers by the year 2000. I thank you for your time and business. Sincerely, Kageyama Hironobu Senior Honda Marketing Advisor
January 2000
This chain letter claims that the Newell company wants to see if people spread chain letters. It is not hard to tell that this is a fake. Consider, how would you rent an e-mail tracker, especially since they do not exist. Why would Ryan Newell of the Newell company think that his promotion was a hoax? How can he put in his e-mail the results of what happened after he sent the e-mail?
Subject: URGENT! RESPOND QUICKLY, SERIOUSLY Important, The Newell Company is trying to Figure out how many people pass along those stupid e-mails along and supposedly get money. So heres how this one works. For the next month Our family has rented an e-mail tracker and we are tracking this e-mail. So if you get this e-mail and forward it we will be able to make you very happy. For every person you send this to you will get $399, and for every person that you sent this to who forwards this you will get $199. Now this is not a hoax. I, Ryan Newell, thought myself that this was a hoax but I sent it to you all and ten(10) days later I got a check for $3990. I urge you to do the same. Good luck and don't spend your money all in one place.
August 2000
This chain letter claims that RH Power Inc. wants to see who will pass on its e-mail. This is a simple variant of the Newell hoax above.
Well...Give it a shot!...What the heck! We have
rented an e-mail tracker for the next 3 months! We at
RH Power Inc. want to see how many people our e-mail
can reach in this time! If you forward this mail, you
will be PAID MONEY!!! This e-mail must be sent
immediately upon receiving this for it to be counted.
For every person you send this to, you will receive
$413! For every person they send this to, you will
receive $139! I, too, Ryan LaGrange, Head Marketing
Manager, thought this was a hoax until I did the same
thing, and the next month, I got a check for $4,612 in
the mail!
**********************BONUS***************************
IF YOU SEND THIS TO AT LEAST 15 PEOPLE RIGHT AWAY,
A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE WILL POP
UP ON YOUR SCREEN. PRINT OUT THIS.--IT IS A GIFT
CERTIFICATE!!!
And, a variant.
Subject: Outback Steakhouse OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE. We have rented an email tracker for the next 3 months! We at RH Power Inc. want to see how many people our email can reach in this time! If you forward this mail, you will be PAID MONEY! ! ! ! This email must be sent immediately upon receiving this for it to be counted. For every person you send this to you will receive $413! For every person they send this to you will receive $139! I too (Ryan LaGrange, Head Marketing Manager), thought this was a hoax until I did the same this and the next month got a check for $4612 in the mail! *************************BONUS******************************* IF YOU SEND THIS TO AT LEAST 15 PEOPLE RIGHT AWAY, A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE WILL POP UP ON YOUR SCREEN PRINT OUT Gotta try it just for the $25 certificate! Jo & Bob Wagner Outback Steakhouse
November 2000
This chain letter claims that Cracker Barrel wants to get its name out there. This is another simple variant of the Newell hoax above. I'm starting to wonder if these are actually hoaxes or are the latest advertising gimmick.
My name is Junior Johnson, founder of Cracker Barrel. In an attempt to get our name out to more people in the rural communities where we are not currently located, we are offering a $50 gift certificate to anyone who forwards this email to 9 of their friends. Just send this email to them and you will receive an email back with a confirmation number to claim your gift certificate. Sincerely Junior Johnson Founder of Cracker Barrel Hey guys, DONT DELETE THIS EMAIL It really works, I tried it and got my Gift certificate confirmation number in 3 minutes.
January 2002
Now Applebees wants to get in on it. Think about this for a minute, as this mail is only forwarded to 9 of your friends, who is going to mail you a gift certificate? One of your friends? Applebees has no way of knowing who you send this to unless you cc it to them. If you go to the Applebees website listed in the hoax you get the following in a popup window.
Subject: Gift Certificate from Applebees My name is Bill Palmer, founder of Applebees. In an attempt to get our name out to more people in the rural communities where we are not currently located, we are offering a $50 gift certificate to anyone who forwards this email to 9 of their friends. Just send this email to them and you will receive an email back with a confirmation number to claim your gift certificate. Sincerely Bill Palmer Founder of Applebees Visit us at: www.applebees.com Hey guys, DONTDELETE THIS EMAIL It really works, I tried it and got my Gift certificate confirmation number in 3 minutes.
June 2003
Come on people. No one is going to give you a free flight on an airline for forwarding an e-mail to 5 people.
Subject: FREE flight I thought this was bollocks, but they got back to me within a week!!!!!!!! I contacted the London BA office - THIS IS REAL!!!!!! Due to the SARS and the recent war in Iraq, the number of passengers flying world-wide has fallen dramatically. We at British Airways have launched an international media campaign which aims to fill our aircraft once again. A part of this campaign is direct email advertising. This is where YOU come in! British Airways, along with Microsoft are tracking this email, and for every 5 people you forward this to, you will receive a flight to London return from any destination in the world (if your in the UK, you can fly to any Asian destination return). Send this email to 10 people and you are eligible to fly ANYWHERE in the world return to your depature point! Simple as that! However, that only catch is you MUST travel BEFORE 31st October 2003. You will be contacted via email within 5 working days for your full contact and booking details. Note: one flight per person only. Regards, Dolly Francis BT GROUP Corporate Finance 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Fax: +44 207 356 5475 Telephone: +44 20 73565494
July 2003
Sorry to tell you this but that free salad coupon you just received in your e-mail is not real.
McDonald's Customer Notice - Invalid Salad Coupon
July 2003
How about some free Champagne along with your free McDonald's salad??? --- Not!
See also the alert on the Veuve Clicquot France Website
Cc: <champagne@veuve-clicquot.fr> Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 8:51 AM Subject: FW: CHAMPAGNE LOVERS .... GIVEAWAY To all you Champagne Lovers.... Send this on to 10 people and cc to champagne@veuve-clicquot.fr Veuve Clicquot France who will contact you directly for your address and ship you a case of free champagne in 3 weeks. Obviously building up their databases, but who cares for this opportunity ! Happy bubbles! Sue XXXXXX Wine Industry Consultant PO Box XXX Margaret River WA 6285
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