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Oprah Winfrey Email Scam - "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show"

Oprah Winfrey Email Scam - "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show"

Fans of the Oprah Winfrey Show are now targets of a new scam that began circulating in March 2009. The FBI's IC3 website posted an alert to the circulation of a fraudulent e-mail, purportedly from The Oprah Winfrey Show, notifying recipients of their nomination for the "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show." To participate, recipients are requested to mail their contact information such as full name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address; however, no mailing address was provided. Verified contestants are then required to purchase airfare and a ticket to attend The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as complete a forthcoming contest form containing personal questions. The contestants are then promised a seat for The Oprah Winfrey Show in April and asked to provide their responses to the personal questions for a chance to win a million dollars.

Consumers always need to be skeptical of any unsolicited emails. Do not open unsolicited e-mails or click on any embedded links, as they may contain viruses or malware. And providing your personal information can compromise your identity and lead to identity theft or your bank account being cleaned out.

If you receive unsolicited emails, like the Orpah Winfrey scam, file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

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Sample actual scam Oprah Winfrey letter, March 23, 2009:

From:  oprah.millionaire.contest.show.2009@theoprahwinfreyshow.com
Subject:      Confirm your nomination now as a contestant in the April 15Th,2009-Oprah Millionaire Contest Show.
Date:           March 22, 2009 4:20:12 AM EDT
Reply-To:       oprahmillionairecontestshow@gmail.com

The Oprah Winfrey Show
Harpo Productions, Inc.
Oprah Millionaire Contest Show 2009
Contest Add: 3215 E. Madison, Seattle, WA 98112

We know the bad news: layoffs, foreclosures, banks teetering on collapse. Yet people are finding creative ways to help their neighbors, and themselves. We'll show you how you can do the same.

Oprah Millionaire Contest Show

Step: One {1}

We are delighted to inform you of your nomination on the 17th March, 2009 from The Oprah Winfrey Show-Empower Yourself - Oprah Millionaire Contest Show, which was fully based on an electronic selection of contestants using their e-Mail Identification from the IRS data base and AT&T data base of all United States e-Mail service providers in association with National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Step: Two {2}

Do e-Mail or  Fax: 206-202-2671  the information below:-

Personal e-Mail I.D:
Full name{as it registered on your I.D.}:
Full Home Address:
Home Telephone Number:
Home Telephone Service Provider Name:
Cell Phone Number{Optional}:
Cell Phone Service Provider Name:

Step: Three {3}

All the electronically selected participants will have to go through the organizers e-verifications process and every successfully verified contestant will be required to purchase Oprah Winfrey Show Single Entry Ticket , Two{2}Ways - Air Ticket{Train Ticket} Booklet, Air Port {Train Station}Taxi Pick Up Receipt Slip and charged as registration fees.

Step: Four {4}

Every successfully selected contestant will be sent the contestant's Standard Express Parcel containing the Oprah Millionaire Contest Show Declaration Form -With Ten {10} Personal Questions  Booklet for contestant To Answer Accurately, Oprah Winfrey Show Single Entry Ticket , Two{2}Ways - Air Ticket{Train Ticket} Booklet, Air Port {Train Station}Taxi Pick Up Receipt Slip and Itinerary Drive Map Plan attached with the contest information that you will need to know.

Step: Five {5}

April 15Th,2009 all the contestants will attend the ABC Nationally televised Oprah Winfrey Show on which you will be ask to answer all the Ten{10} Personal Questions About yourself accurately, which will give all the contestants a chance to answer those personal questions accurately and exact to win yourself a million dollars at The Oprah Winfrey Show - Oprah Millionaire Contest Show.

This contest is promoted and sponsored by Harpo Productions, Inc. , ABC Inc., America Airlines, AT&T, Netzero Inc. and Money Gram Inc. as part of their social responsibility to the American Public.

OPRAH is a registered trademark of Harpo, Inc. All rights reserved. For full list of trademarks, - 2009 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive.  We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!

 

 

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For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.