Bill Gates Hoax:
Bill Gates is offering a $1,000 reward to everyone who forwards his e-mail message.
What started out as a hoax aimed at Bill Gates has morphed into an ongoing Internet joke involving one company after another. Other 'giveaways' include:
Abercrombie and Fitch ($25 gift certificates)
AOL/Intel (cash)
AOL/Netscape (cash)
AOL/Time-Warner and EMI (cash)
Applebees ($50 gift certificates)
Bath and Body Works ($50 gift certificates)
Coca-Cola (Coke)
Columbia House (music CDs)
Cracker Barrel ($50 gift certificates)
Delta (air travel)
Disney (cash or WDW vacations)
Ericsson (wireless phones)
The Gap (clothes or $35 gift certificates)
Honda (cars)
IBM (computers)
J. Crew ($50 gift certificates)
Mars (M&Ms)
Nike (shoes or cash)
Old Navy ($25 gift certificates)
Outback Steakhouse ($25 gift certificates)
Newell Company (cash)
Nokia (wireless phones)
RD Power Inc. (cash)
Sony (PlayStation consoles)
Veuve-Clicquot (case of champagne)
Victoria's Secret ($50 gift certificates)
ALDI:
ALDI is giving away free gift vouchers to those who complete a survey.
AOL:
Avoid AOL price increase by asking to be locked into old rate for a year.
Apple:
In memory of Steve Jobs: free iPads, iPhones or MacBooks.
Promotional event partnering Apple with Gmail, Craigslist or Facebook awards free iPhones and iPads to those who fill out a survey.
Applebee's:
Applebee's restaurants are giving away $50 gift certificates to customers who forward an e-mail message.
Baskin-Robbins:
Baskin-Robbins outlets will be offering free ice cream to pregnant women on 21 May 2008.
Ben & Jerry's:
Ben & Jerry's outlets will be offering free ice cream on 25 April 2006.
Bertolli Olive Oil:
Internet-circulated coupon for free bottle of Bertolli Olive Oil.
Best Buy:
Free $1,000 Best Buy gift card.
Blockbuster:
On-line coupon can be redeemed for free movie rental, popcorn, and sodas at Blockbuster outlets.
Boston Market:
Boston Market is offering coupons good for a $1 chicken meal.
British Airways:
British Airways is offering free round-trip travel to London to those who forward an e-mail message to 10 other people.
Burger King:
Burger King vouchers for inviting friends on Facebook.
CD Refund:
CD purchasers can apply on a web site to claim their share of the settlement of a price-fixing lawsuit.
Cell Phone Credit for Text Message Forward:
Forwarding a text message to ten other people will get you a $60.00 or $160.00 credit on your cell phone bill.
Cheesecake Factory:
Free $100 Cheesecake Factory gift cards for all Facebook users.
On 30 July 2008, The Cheesecake Factory restaurants will be selling cheesecake for $1.50 per slice.
Chick-Fil-A:
Consumers can receive a coupon for a free chicken sandwich and Coke at Chick-fil-A by registering at freechickenandcoke.com.
conEdison:
Con Edison is reimbursing its customers up to $350 in compensation for food spoiled during the August 2003 blackout.
Cosmetics:
Cosmetics manufacturers will be giving away free product in settlement of a class-action lawsuit.
Costco:
Free $500 or $1,000 Costco gift cards for all Facebook users.
Daniels, Nolan:
Nolan Daniels is giving away $1 million to the millionth person to post a particular photo to Facebook of him holding up his winning Powerball ticket?
Delta Air Lines:
Get free air travel on Delta Air Lines for forwarding an e-mail message.
Disneyland:
Free tickets to Disneyland for inviting friends on Facebook.
Doritos:
Internet-circulated coupons can be redeemed for free bags of Doritos brand tortilla chips.
Dr Pepper:
Dr Pepper is giving away coupons for free soda in conjunction with the release of Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy album.
Dunkin' Donuts:
Dunkin' Donuts outlets are giving away free iced coffees on 21 March 2007.
e.l.f. Cosmetics:
The e.l.f. brand of cosmetics has been bought up by a major department store chain and is offering its remaining inventory at $1 per item in anticipation of rebranding.
Ericsson:
Internet users can receive a free laptop computers from Ericsson for forwarding an e-mail message to eight friends.
FreeFlixTix:
The web site FreeFlixTix distributes free movie tickets.
Free 411:
The phone number 1-800-FREE-411 offers free directory assistance service.
Free Gas Coupon:
Web site offers coupon good for free gasoline.
Guinness Book of World Records:
Get your name in the Guinness Book of World Records by forwarding an e-mail.
IHOP:
IHOP restaurants are offering free pancakes on National Pancake Day.
IN-N-OUT:
The IN-N-OUT hamburger chain will be offering price rollbacks as part of a 60th anniversary promotion.
IWon:
IWon.com is giving away scads of cash to those who forward an e-mail.
Jamba Juice:
Online coupon can be redeemed for a free smoothie at Jamba Juice outlets.
JetBlue:
Two free JetBlue air tickets for Facebook users.
KFC:
KFC is giving away free Popcorn Chicken on 20 June 2002.
Krispy Kreme:
Krispy Kreme outlets will be giving away free doughnuts on 3 June 2005.
Long John Silver's:
Long John Silver's restaurants will be giving away free Giant Shrimp on 10 May 2004.
Marks & Spencer:
Marks & Spencer are giving away free merchandise vouchers in partnership with Persimmon Homes.
McDonald's:
McDonald's is distributing an Internet-circulated coupon redeemable for a free Premium Salad at McDonald's restaurants.
Microsoft/AOL:
Internet users can receive a cash reward for forwarding messages to test a Microsoft/AOL e-mail tracking system.
Miller Beer:
The Miller Brewing Company is giving away 2 million cases of free beer to celebrate the year 2000.
Mr. Smiley:
Sign up with Mr. Smiley and receive a free T-shirt.
Moonlite Bunny Ranch:
Brothel in Nevada offers free sex to U.S. troops returning from Iraq.
Netflix:
Netflix is notifying customers of a class action lawsuit settlement via e-mail.
Olive Garden:
Olive Garden restaurants are offering free $500 gift cards for fans who sign up through their Facebook site.
Panda Express:
Panda Express will be celebrating its 15th anniversary by offering discounted and free food on 19 November 2008.
PayPal:
PayPal customers can claim a share of a class action lawsuit settlement.
Prize Bounty:
Prize Bounty is giving away free Xbox systems.
Red Robin:
An Internet-distributed coupon can be redeemed at Red Robin restaurants for a free hamburger and sundae.
Sony Playstation:
Internet users can receive free Sony PlayStation consoles for forwarding an e-mail message to their friends.
Southwest Airlines:
Southwest Airlines provides free air travel to those who have AIDS or herpes.
Two free tickets for travel on Southwest Airlines.
Starbucks:
An Internet-distributed coupon can be redeemed at any participating Starbucks outlet for a free Crème Frappuccino drink.
Starbucks issued 'My Favorite Way to Cool Down This Summer' coupons via e-mail.
Free Starbucks $50 or $100 gift cards.
An Internet-circulated coupon is good for a free pastry at Starbucks outlets on 23 March 2010.
Subway:
The Subway chain of sandwich shops is offering free gift cards to those who participate in a market research program.
Swiffer:
Consumers can get a coupon for a free Swiffer Wet Jet mop by calling a phone number.
Target:
Target stores with optical departments are offering free eyeglasses to children 12 and under.
Target is distributing free $500 vouchers to users who click an online link.
Texas Free Tow:
Texas driver's licenses include a toll-free number stranded motorists can call to receive free towing service.
Tim Hortons:
To celebrate its birthday, Tim Hortons chain of donut shops is giving away free gift cards.
Tipsy Tow:
The AAA offers a free nationwide towing service during the holidays for motorists who have had too much to drink.
TOGO's:
The TOGO's restaurant chain is giving away free sandwiches on Wednesday, June 20, 2001.
Toms Shoes:
Toms Shoes is giving away free merchandise to Facebook users.
United States Postal Service:
The USPS provides free Priority Mail shipping supplies for customers sending packages to U.S. military personnel overseas.
Velveeta and Reynolds Wrap:
Two Internet-circulated coupons for free Velveeta and Reynolds Wrap.
Veterans Day:
Restaurant chains are offering free meals to U.S. military personnel in conjunction with Veterans Day.
Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club:
Credit card users are eligible $25 refunds from the settlement of a class action suit.
Walmart:
Free $100 or $1,000 Walmart gift card.
Wendy's:
An Internet-circulated coupon can be redeemed for a free cheeseburger and soft drink at Wendy's restaurants.
Whataburger:
E-mailed "12 Days of Whataburger" coupons can be redeemed for free food items at Whataburger outlets.
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