Beware of the Oprah E-mail Scam
If you've been the recipient of an e-mail that claims to give you a free trip to 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' don't click so fast. You might be looking at a scam. Admittedly it's a legal one and something that won't necessarily result in you losing your nest egg or all your personal info, but a scam nonetheless.
The e-mail claims that if you complete a simple survey you'll be the recipient of a $1,200 package including airfare, hotel, and tickets to Oprah's show (promising, in big type, that you'll "be a part of the show!"). But click on through and you'll find that the survey is actually a whopping 50 pages long. Only after you complete the opus are you told that in order to be eligible for the travel package, you need to also pay for one or more magazine subscriptions and agree to a host of other marketing promotions. So there's really nothing free about it. And despite Oprah's picture being featured prominently in the deal, this deal has nothing to do with Ms. Winfrey (who, for the record, gives away tickets to her show for free). In fact, Oprah's company, Harpo Productions, has asked the company responsible for this "deal" to remove all pictures and references to Oprah Winfrey.
We found the same "deal" for 'The Ellen Show' as well, along with of course a whole raft of similar sounding promotions for free things ranging from iPods to Xbox 360s. It should go without saying at this point that some old adages apply, even in modern times: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
From New York Post
Related Links:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Becky @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:30PM
If you don't know by now that if something appears too good to be true via email, then you don't belong on the Internet.
Sandra Cole @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:30PM
These sites put a black mark on the legitimate offers out there. Thankyou for putting them in the spot light.
Thomas Walker @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:37PM
I don't 'click' on anything I haven't prev asked for, so it's really a waste of (My) time AND whomever sends all this CRAP to my e box as I just delete anything that says FREE*
kboogy21 @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:53PM
I get those all the time! I don't even open them simply DELETE. As a matter of fact anything from anyone I don't recognize gets deleted.
Denise @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:00PM
I SENT HARPO PRODUCTIONS copies and pastings of these schemes, as I was getting them months ago.
They, per usual, ignore anything that doesn't have a DOLLAR MARK ATTACHED TO IT.
Sorry to those who have been scammed, I did my best, took a lot of time and effort to get their attention, while knowing the probability was 1Million:1.....
Sorry for those of you who got hurt, remember there celebrities don't really care. I only took the time from my busy day, to see if something would be done, perhaps the email read and taken seriously (as it should have been). But, it wasn't. Sometimes "we" just can't win.
Keep all eyes open, as there are too many scam artists out there, and MEGA MILLIONAIRES/BILLIONAIRES who don't care if you lose $100.00 or $10,000.00
Donna @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:08PM
If you open something from the internet that says it is free, YOU MIGHT BE A RED NECK. Here's your sign.
Kathy @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:16PM
I have received that email at least 3 times and just deleted it without opening it. Never open stuff like that - it's always junk email and leads to no good.
Dee @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:24PM
I stupidly did a survey once and it promises a ride on tractor. Oh, what a scam, I had to buy a magazine, subscribe to disney movies and bmg music. I did everything that they asked me to do and I never recieve the tractor. I e-mail, better homes and gardens, Disney & Bmg about this and never got a response I know that Better Homes & Gardens, Disney and Bmg are not responsible but I thought that they should know the company they hired to drum up customers does it promising items that you never get. I kept trying to contact them for six months but no one ever contacted me back. I have to give Opra credit when she found out she did something about it. I wish it would have worked for me. No such luck. P.S. since then subscribtion final ended and I have cancelled Bmg music and it process of cancelling Disney movies.
Lucky @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:27PM
I never open unsoliticed e-mail. You never know if it's someone phishing.
harapango @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:42PM
I get lots of offers from places like Nigeria to secretly collect a lot of cash. I usually reply and tell them I already collected it. Hopefully that sets them off.
phil @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:55PM
Beware of Oprah in general...too many people are taking her advice in areas where she has no qualifications or knowledge.
lori @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:55PM
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS FROM....DON'T OPEN IT!!
THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY SCAMMERS OUT THERE!!
Lori
WWW.LALALIPS.COM
LIP COLOR THAT STAYS ON UNTIL YOU TAKE IT OFF!
bianca jagger @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:58PM
hey, harango, big mistake answering back. HUGE MISTAKE!!!
bianca jagger @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:02PM
sorry, not harango, HARAPANGO!!! AND ALL OF YOU OUT THERE , DON'T EVER EVER REPLY E-MAILS LIKE THAT, PLEASE, HUGE MISTAKE!
Jackie @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:04PM
This and all scams are such a drag, have to take time to go thru my email clicking report spam the first time they arrive. After the first time my spam guard usually sends them straight to my spam folder.
The email scams that really annoy me are the ones that have an address so similar to someone in my address book and always have re: in the subject line. Now I have to take time to make sure it is from a friend or a legitimate company I do business with before I either click spam or open it. ANNOYING!
George Roche @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:06PM
OOOhhhhh NNnnnnoooo The fine folks who phone you and try to sell you something because you filled in a "SURVEY" know EXACTLY where your information came from and the insinuations & false promises made. They are NOT innocent people who are just trying to earn a living via telephone sales. I simply let them complete their sales pitch, agreeing whenever possible, and pretend to be interested, but "just not quite sure yet". I keep them on the phone as long as possible. When I am done playing (wasting their time) I talk over them while they are talking. They do figure out they are talking to a BALL BUSTER, as it is called in the industry, and hang up.
Time is precious to them, and a professional does NOT waste time; it really ticks them off to be bested by some housewife or retiree with nothing better to do.
George
Pierpoint Windsor @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:08PM
E-mails for attending the O show-not in my house.
#1 Can't stand Mz. Billionaire in your face bling O
#2 Never open or read unsolicited or em's from unfamiliar sources
#3 Is not lady O a scam artist herself. Oh I know she's Mz. perfect, and has answers to solve everyones problems. Remember well her wearing huge bling in the face of those less fortunate..Also I remember her 'giving away cars' to an audience only to be forced into admitting the give away was the auto manufacturer's promotional idea..O was merely the ideal for gaining wide commercial publicity.
#4 O is and remains an extremely savvy BUSINESS WOMEN. She has my respect for building he mega corporation and lasting this long. Having worked in the industry I well know the difference between the public personality and the private.
#5 For those who suspect I might be jealous,,,wrong, good for her, she's succeeded where others have not--bravo-she brings a great deal of joy into many folks lives.. She's just no longer my cup of chocolate...
#6 As a successful retiree with every comfort imaginable, and enough accumulated I believe the only place to put my bucks in helping others is in education---Nice Mz. O was thoughtful enough to provide for the young ladies in Africa...How much is she doing for US kids??? Probably plenty but we never seem to hear about that side--(?)
All TV shows provide free tickets, but free transportation is reserved only for specific guests.........
Marilyn @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:12PM
I delete everything in my mail box. If it is from someone unknown I just delete. It is foolish to open stuff that is from unknown names and titles. So ---- delete, delete, delete.
kyle @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:20PM
The worse are all the ones from the UK ..They don't stop sending ..Claim you won Lottery, claim someone passed away and have no relatives and want you to take the money (what a scam) ..This was on TV and people still get screwed. why? If it is too good to be true, it's NOT real. These UK want you to send them money first and than they disappear. Do NOT fall into that trap, as people have. Beware
Paula @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:45PM
I was getting so tired of the telemarketers calling me that one evening I purposely answered the phone and turned on this gadget I have that makes five different flatuance sounds. The machine was going non stop through out this guys speech. I was trying not laugh, then before I knew it, I heard him telling his coworkers. I turned the machine off with tears in my eyes from my laughter and wouldn't you know it, the cordless phone kept the turned off machine activated. I finally hung up on the guy but he called me right back. He was laughing hysterically. I'll bet he still talks about that call he made.