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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."
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.
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.
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.