Re: TARGET: GENERAL: Microsoft Fake Offer???

[Janice Ziglin <janicez@MAIL.EXECPC.COM>]

I checked the Mining Co. Urban legend/hoax site and got this info:


 Microsoft Email Tracking: the Sequel

 Dateline: 05/12/99

 This week's hot email forward claims that Microsoft is testing "a new email
tracking system"
 in an effort to stay competitive in the wake of the AOL/Netscape merger.
According to the
 message, Microsoft will pay you $5 for every person you forward it to, an
additional $3 for
 every person they forward it to, and so on.

 "It really works," says the chain letter.

 Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but no... it doesn't work.

 There's no such thing as email tracking (see last year's debunking for the
whys and
 wherefores), nor is Microsoft so desperate for attention that it needs to
resort to chain letters to
 promote itself.

 If you forwarded this message, you've been had:


janicez@execpc.com
Jan Ziglin, Library Media Specialist
Pilgrim Park Middle School
Elm Grove, WI

----------
>From: Julia Henninger <jhenning@TENET.EDU>
>To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
>Subject: TARGET: GENERAL: Microsoft Fake Offer???
>Date: Sun, May 23, 1999, 5:44 AM
>

>A colleague emailed this to me. Sounds fake to me - what do you
>know/think? Thanks!
>
>Julia Henninger
>Librarian
>Casis Elementary
>Austin, TX
>jhenning@tenet.edu
>
>>> >>
>>> >>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 testingprocess.  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.
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >_______________________________________________________________
>>> >Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
>>> >
>>>
>>
>
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