Things I like .....: Congratulations!! Congratulations!! Congratulations!!

I received the following email from Microsoft that claims I have won 1,350,000.00 (One MillionThree Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds).

Wow! is this for real or a hoax? Any takers?

Microsoft Award Team
20 Craven Park, Harlesden London NW10 United Kingdom
Ref: BTD/968/05
Batch: 409978E
Dear Winner,

.
CONGRATULATION! CONGRATULATION!! CONGRATULATION!!!

Dear. Sir/ Madam,

The prestigious Microsoft and aol has set out and successfully organised a Sweepstakes marking the year 2007 anniversary we rolled out over US$ 400,419,864 for our end of 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 personalised email addresses to ticket numbers. If you ignore this, you will regret it later. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains 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 BTD/9080648302/06 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you 1,350,000.00 (One MillionThree Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds) as one of the 5 jackpot winners in this draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of 1,350,000.00 (One MillionThree Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great Britain Pounds) The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in Brockley, London United Kingdom on the 13th of January,2007. These Draws are commemorative and as such special.

Please be informed by this winning notification,to file your claims,you are to make contact with your designated agent who shall by duty guide you through the process to facilitate the release of your prize.To file for your claim Please Contact your delivery agency in the contact information below:

DELIVERY AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:
NAME OF COURIER FIRM: FRONTIERS DELIVERY SERVICES
OFFICE ADDRESS: 102 Oxford Street London,WC1N 3HR United- Kingdom.

Tel:+0044-703-189-7165
Fax:+0044-870-479-4706
Email: claimingagencydept@katamail.com

Contact Person: Call Dr. DAVID MARK MAHON.

You are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications: Complete the forms accordingly.

VERIFICATIONS FORM

FULL NAMES...................................................
CONTACT ADDRESS........................................
TEL/FAX NUMBERS.........................................
AGE.................................................................
SEX..................................................................
OCCUPATION.................................................
NEXT OF KIN..................................................
COUNTRY........................................................
AMOUNT WON................................................
WINNING EMAIL.............................................
REFERENCE NUMBER....................................
TICKET NUMBERS..........................................
SERIAL NUMBERS...........................................

Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gates and his associates.We wish you the best of luck as you spend your good fortune in this season.

Note: You have One weeks from the date of this publication to claim your prize or you may forefeit your winnings.In compliance with the sponsoring bodies',you are to make a remittance of a part of your won fund,not lower than 10-percent, after receiving your allocation to a charity organisation.

Thank you for being part of our commemorative end of year Anniversary Draws.
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT BE ATTENDED TO, KINDLY CONTACT YOUR FIDUCIARY AGENT DIRECTLY FOR FURTHER DIRECTIONS

Mrs. Linda Rose.
Microsoft Promotion Team
Vice President
Microsoft

While browsing the net I bumped into this article which I thought was worth reading/sharing. The Top 25 Web Hoaxes and Pranks.

The Top 10 Web Hoaxes and Pranks are listed below.
1. The Accidental Tourist (2001)
2. Sick Kid Needs Your Help (1989)
3. Bill Gates Money Giveaway (1997)
4. Five-Cent E-Mail Tax (1999)
5. Nigerian 419 E-Mail Scam (2000)
6. It's Kidney Harvesting Time (1996)
7. You've Got Virus! (1999 and on)
8. Microsoft Buys Firefox (2006)
9. The Really Big Kitty (2001)
10. $250 Cookie Recipe (1996)

Read the full text here