# Apparently, I won a lot of money from Microsoft. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 25, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522 "2008-10-25T16:31:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twit)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/1 "2008-10-25T16:31:04Z")
At least I don’t have to send them any money like the Nigerian scams. My favorite line is: “If you ignore this massage, you will defiantly regret it later.” Dear Sir/ Madam, The prestigious Microsoft and AOL has set out and successfully organized a Sweepstakes marking the year 2008 anniversary we rolled out over US$ 400,419,864 for our Mid-year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage. The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching personalized email addresses to ticket numbers. If you ignore this massage, you will defiantly regret it later. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies & in effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remain the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail beta test. Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to reference and ticket number 008795727498 with serial numbers MIC-AOL/8302/08 and drew the lucky numbers 14-18-25-39-53-47 (10) which subsequently won you £ 1,000,000 ( One Million Great Britain Pounds) as one of the jackpot winner in this draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of £ 1,000,000 (One Million Great Britain Pounds) the draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in Liverpool, UK. Yesterday the 24th, October 2008. These Draws are commemorative and as such special. Please be informed by this winning notification to file your claims immediately. You are advised to make contact to your referred agent who will by duty guide you through the process to facilitate the release of your winning prize. To file for this claims, Please Contact your referred agent with your verification information as required on the form below, beginning the claims of your winnings funds as conducted by the lottery company. We dedicate our special thanks & gratitude to Bill Gates {Now Retired from Microsoft Corporations} .We wish you the best of luck as you spend your good fortune in this season. Note: You have Two (2) weeks from the date of this publication to claim your prize or you may forfeit your winnings. Thank you for being part of our commemorative mid-year Anniversary Draws. Find below your referred agent and the verification form: Address: 18 South Drive, Hepworth,Diss,N0rfolk, IP22 2HF, UK Contact Agent: Mr. David Oliver Tel: +44-702 403 5598 Email: david.oliverdesk@yahoo.com.hk Name: … Country of Origin… Place of Residence… Occupation… Sex/Age… Telephone/Fax… Winning Email ID… NOTE: DUE TO FRAUDSTERS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO EFFECT TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT ONLY AND WHEN CONTACTING YOUR REFERRED AGENT, DO QUOTE YOUR TICKET NUMBER AND SERIAL NUMBER FOR SECURITY REASONS. Gondon Calos Public Relations Officer Microsoft Corporation ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/2 "2008-10-25T16:37:46Z")
If you fall for this, you will defiantly confirm your user name… ---
**Author:** ![twit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twit)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/3 "2008-10-25T16:55:56Z")
I thought it was because I was a pregnant goldfish. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/4 "2008-10-25T17:19:13Z")
I can tell it’s real because the 'agent" uses a Yahoo! mailing address. Congratulations on your new found fortune 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/5 "2008-10-25T17:24:35Z")
> [@twit](#): > > Dear Sir/ Madam, > > The **prestigious** Microsoft and **AOL** They aren’t even trying any more, are they? ---
**Author:** ![twit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twit)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/6 "2008-10-25T18:25:52Z")
I only wish it was a real fortune! ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/7 "2008-10-25T19:45:01Z")
> [@twit](#): > > NOTE: DUE TO FRAUDSTERS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO EFFECT TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK > ACCOUNT ONLY AND WHEN CONTACTING YOUR REFERRED AGENT, DO QUOTE YOUR TICKET > NUMBER AND SERIAL NUMBER FOR SECURITY REASONS. Congratulations! But do look out for those fraudsters. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/8 "2008-10-25T20:37:24Z")
It seems that I have won a lot of money the UK lottery. I was in London a month or so ago, but I don’t remember playing the lottery. It must be those great UK beers! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/9 "2008-10-25T21:11:32Z")
But [people are still falling for it.](http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=367276) Humans, can’t live with them. Can’t live without them. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/10 "2008-10-25T21:33:14Z")
Wow! I just got the very same message in my inbox! Who would’ve thought that two people from the dope would win the same prize? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/11 "2008-10-25T21:58:51Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > Wow! I just got the very same message in my inbox! Who would’ve thought that two people from the dope would win the same prize? 😃 With the same serial numbers, too! Hope you don’t have to split it. > [@ftg](#): > > Humans, can’t live with them. Can’t live without them. Can’t shoot 'em, either.[/steven wright] ---
**Author:** ![twit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twit)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/12 "2008-10-25T22:50:12Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > Wow! I just got the very same message in my inbox! Who would’ve thought that two people from the dope would win the same prize? 😃 Guess we’ll have to split it then. I just wonder how much it’ll be worth in dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/13 "2008-10-26T01:12:01Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > But [people are still falling for it.](http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=367276) Wow, that makes me inexplicably sad. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/14 "2008-10-26T13:51:07Z")
Why would a company give out money without running a campaign advertising the giveaway? It defeats the only purpose of having a giveaway. Yes we had a secret giveaway so nobody would know about it and how altruistic we at Microsoft are.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-won-a-lot-of-money-from-microsoft/469522/15 "2008-10-29T02:58:52Z")
Microsoft, Schmicrosoft. I am the beneficiary of 7.6 million dollars!!! And all I had to do was be an honest person. According to today’s incoming email: > [@](#): > > You Are the Vessel of Christ Jesus. Reply Beloved. > > Please do accept my apology if this mail does not meet your personal ethics. I am Kate Solomon now undergoing medical treatment for cancer. I am married to Dr. Peter Solomon who worked with South Africa embassy in Malaysia for nine years before he died in the year 2000. > > We both make a deposit of a total sum of $7.6M in a Finance Company in Europe. Recently, my Doctor told me that i have few months to live due to cancer problem. > > Having known my condition I have decided to donate this fund to a honest Person. My Attorney will issue you a Letter of Authority from the Court naming you the original Beneficiary of these funds.Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. > > Hoping to hear from you. > Mrs. Kate Solomon