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Instant Messaging Giveaway
An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft is planning on giving away $1000/hr randomly to users of the new MSN messenger. They are going to send instant messages to the winners. I can just see it now, 'You've won $1000 in the MSN Messenger giveaway, just go this website and enter your SS# and credit card info for verification.'" Where's Ed McMahon with the big check when you need him?
It says specifically only MSN client software. I guess I won't be winning.
And who's going to believe it? With Vmyths gone, I can't check it out anymore.
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
MSN Messenger lets you communicate with MSN subscribers and other passport users. Its readily downloadable and works with your own personal throw-away hotmail account.
MS has been in the IM market for a quite a while now, so "moving into a new market" doesn't really apply.
The site is here http://www4.msnmessenger-download.com/fastcash/def ault.aspx
In America we are imprisoned by our fear of them.
I think that particular phrase means you don't have to purchase a product in order to enter to win (because then it can be construed as gambling).
However, I would compare this more to when Mastercard offers to pay the credit card bill of whoever's bill clocks in at 11:17am on 23 December, 2003.
..No mention of it ANYWHERE on their site.
I smell a hoax - and CNN fell for it.
Also, no where does the article say anything about having to give your SSN and CC#, nor do they provide a link to any such site. Anyone duped into providing this information is a fool.
Everyone needs to RTFA before commenting, really.
Cruising the internet on my TI-99/4A @ a whopping 300 baud!
No, it's not v6.0
The MS deal has to be possible, because Visa did a promo where random cardusers would win, and every transaction counted as an entry. I'm guessing if you read the fine print there's a mail-in entry address. Of course, those probably go to /dev/null, but have fun proving it.
-Looking for a job as a materials chemist or multivariat
It took some searching but, here's your free link: http://www5.msnmessenger-download.com/thankyou.asp x
1. Fill out the form and enter the contest.
2. Log on to MSN Messenger 6.0 on Fridays 7/25/03 through 8/15/03 between 9am and 7pm Pacific time.
3. If you're selected, we'll send you an alert. Clicking on the alert will take you to a Web page. (If you miss the alert the first time, you'll get 2 more tries!)
4. Confirm the email address from your entry form.
5. Decide what to do with your $1,000!
You don't pay anything, you do have to use their software, but I don't see how that would fall under a no purchase necessary provision.
If you go to msn.com, click on "MSN Messenger - New!" on the left column, click on one of the download links and you'll see the ad. BTW, here's the rules. .
The SSN and CC# number comment was meant as a joke. You know, Joe Luser enters the contest (or is told he was automaticly entered), gets an IM from a scammer telling him "just this information please and we'll send you the money". Later he realizes all he got was the wrong end of a plunger.
"And a voice was screaming: 'Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?'" - HST
MS started paying dividends on shares of stock this year. I think it was $0.16 per share (thought I might be wrong).
"You can now flame me, I am full of love,"
ELIGIBILITY: This sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry who have access to a personal computer running Microsoft Windows 98 (or later version) operating system and Internet Access as of July 15, 2003. Void where prohibited by law. Employees of Microsoft Corporation and anyone working directly on Microsoft programs and their respective affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, promotion, advertising and promotional agencies and the immediate family members and persons living in the households of each are not eligible to enter.
Being called a dork on Slashdot must be like being called the retard in special ed.
THE MSN® MESSENGER FAST CASH FRIDAY SWEEPSTAKES
.NET Passport to enter this sweepstakes. To obtain one, visit http://register.passport.com/ and follow the registration instructions. You must have the free MSN Messenger 6.0 software properly installed and linked to a valid .NET Passport account submitted at the time of entry. If you do not have the software installed as required, you will be provided with instructions for installation of MSN Messenger 6.0 and will be directed to the MSN Messenger 6.0 download website from the online entry form or you may download it at http://www.msnmessenger-download.com. Limit one entry per person, e-mail address and .NET Passport ID per day. Multiple entries submitted by a single entrant in excess of the entry limit are void. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for lost, late or misdirected entries, or for any computer, online, telephone, or human error or technical malfunctions that may occur. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned.
OFFICIAL RULES
1) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: No purchase necessary to enter or win. Promotion begins at 12:01 a.m. (PT) on July 16, 2003 and ends at 11:59 p.m. (PT) on August 13, 2003 (the sweepstakes period). Winners will be selected in random drawings from among all eligible entries received according to the Entry Deadline Chart below.
2) HOW TO ENTER/SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: To enter the sweepstakes, access the MSN Messenger Fast Cash Friday Sweepstakes Web Site at http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/fastcash and follow the link to the online entry form. Follow the instructions provided to complete the online entry form and click to submit. You will be asked to provide your First and Last Name, Passport ID, e-mail address, street address and phone number. Entrants must complete all required information on the online entry form to be eligible. You must have a free
3) WINNER SELECTION: Random drawings will be conducted from among all eligible entries that have been properly received according to the Entry Deadline Chart below to award all prizes. All drawings will be conducted by an independent judging organization, whose decisions are final on matters relating to this sweepstakes. Odds of winning a Prize depend on the eligible number of entries received for each respective drawing.
Entry Period Received Online between: Drawing Date: Potential Winners Notified:
1 07/16/03-07/23/03 07/24/03 07/25/03
2 07/16/03-07/30/03 07/31/03 08/01/03
3 07/16/03-08/06/03 08/07/03 08/08/03
4 07/16/03-08/13/03 08/14/03 08/15/03
Entry Period begins 12:01AM PT on start date of that period and ends at 11:59PM PT on end date of that period.
4) WINNER NOTIFICATION: 10 potential winners will be notified between the hours of 9:00AM (PT) and 7:00PM (PT) each Friday according to the Entry Deadline Chart above via MSN Messenger 6.0. One (1) potential winner per hour will receive an alert in MSN Messenger 6.0 from an MSN Sweepstakes representative with information and prize claim/winner verification procedures. The potential winner will have 10 seconds to respond to the alert and must then complete the prize claim and winner verification procedures as instructed in order to be deemed a winner. If the potential winner does not respond to the alert, they will be sent two (2) more alerts within five (5) minutes. If the potential winner does not respond to any of the alerts, they will be disqualified and an alternate winner will be selected. This procedure will be repeated with alternate potential winners up to five (5) attempts per hour until a winner responds. If no potential winner responds to any notification attempts in a one hour period, the prize for that hour will be deemed unclaimed and will be awarded in the Second Chance Drawing, as described below. All winners will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and where legal, Publicity Release w
Great.
Another contest available only to US citizens.
Guess they want make sure noone uses MSN for
_______________TERROR_______________
The $1,000 giveaway is actually not in cash but in Microsoft software (makes it look like a settlement rather than a prize, doesn't it?). So basically, you get to win half of a piece of software that's going to waste half of your life learning how to work around its flaws.