| Microsoft Xbox Giveaway | |||
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| Netlore Archive: Email promises a free Xbox gaming console to 'lucky winners' in a 'promotional competition' supposedly affiliated with Microsoft. The latter denies any knowledge of it. | |||
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Email example contributed by Karen, 3 Dec. 2003:
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Subject: You've won a Microsoft X-Box (This is not spam) Greetings, Your email address was entered into our November Microsoft X-Box
promotional competition
by either yourself or a friend, or perhaps a family member, at
This is a prize draw, you have actually won a brand new Microsoft X-Box
Gaming Console!
Your package also includes these top 5 games:
You are now invited to login to our website and claim your prize that you
have already won.
There are only 9 winners in total this month, out of thousands of emails,
so do count yourself lucky!
We have provided the following web link for you, it is temporary and
expires in 72 hours.
If you do not login within this time, your winning shall unfortunately be
returned to the prize pool.
Here is your link!
On this page you will need to enter this pass code number to proceed:
[Pass Code]
This is very important. Do not lose that number!
Put in your address, and we will send your X-Box to you.
We hope that you will enjoy your new X-Box gaming console.
Congratulations on winning,
From Microsoft and the Prize-Giveaway.com team!
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Comments: Microsoft, the manufacturer of Xbox, has denounced this email offer as a hoax and says the sender is not affiliated with Microsoft in any way. Virtually identical emails have surfaced monthly since September 2003, in each case pointing "winners" to a different Web domain where they can supposedly claim their "prize" by providing a debit card number and PIN to prepay shipping charges. It has all the elements of a scam, plus a false claim of affiliation with Microsoft. Caveat emptor!
Sources and further reading:
Microsoft Warns on Xbox Prize Hoax
Vnunet.com, 5 December 2003
Last updated: 12/05/03
