Scam: "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show"
Example: [Collected via e-mail, March 2009]
The Oprah Winfrey Show
Harpo Productions, Inc.
Oprah Millionaire Contest Show 2009
STUDIO54: 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 for The Oprah Winfrey Show-Empower Yourself - Oprah Millionaire Contest Show, which was fully an electronically based selection of nominees using their
Step: Two {2}
Do e-Mail our online desk or Fax: 206-426-5487 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:
Fax Number {if there is any}:
Age:
Step: Three {3}
All electronically selected nominees will be sent the NOMINEE REGISTRATION FORM to be fill and sent back to via
Step Four {4}
All the nominee registration forms will be compiled, electronically screened and verified by ALEXANDER FORBES Inc., who will conduct an electronic raffle draw that will produce the top
Step Five {5}
All the successfully nominated 20 contestants will be sent a NOMINATION POSTAL NOTIFICATION via postal mail to the nominee's home address and upon receipt of the postal mail you will be notified of the contestant confirmation payment instructions for the
Step: Six {6}
Upon contestant confirmation, you will be sent the contestant's Standard Express Parcel via express courier containing the Oprah Millionaire Contest Show Plastic Laminated Contestant Identification Tag; Two {2} Oprah Winfrey Show - Single Entry Tickets; Two {2} Ways - American Airlines Air Ticket or Train Tickets Booklet; Air Port or Train Station Taxi Pick Up & Drop Off Receipt Slips and Itinerary Drive Map Plan attached with the contest information that you will need to know.
Step: Seven {7}
May 9Th, 2009 all the contestants will attend the ABC Nationally televised Oprah Millionaire Contest Show 2009 on which you will be ask to answer Ten {10} selected Current Affairs Questions accurately, which will give all the
Step: Eight {8}
One Million Dollars check will be handed over to each of the four {4} winners from the four {4} segments of the Oprah Millionaire Contest Show 2009.
This contest is promoted and sponsored by Harpo Productions, Inc., ABC Network., Money Gram Inc., America Airlines, Hertz and AT&T, as part of their social responsibility to the Public.
OPRAH is a registered trademark of Harpo, Inc. All rights reserved. For full list of trademarks,
© 2009 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Origins: This unlikely attempt to part folks from their money began arriving in inboxes everywhere in mid-March 2009. There is no "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show": while the name of one of television's most beloved personalities is invoked in this attempt to defraud and address boilerplate about her show is included in the pitch to make it look legitimate, it's all as phony as a
While the later version of the
Step: Three {3}
All the electronically selected participants will have to go through the organizers
More simply, those who fall for the claim they're "electronically selected nominees" and respond with their personal information to the soliciting
The earlier version of the scam makes it appear to those about to be gulled that they've a real chance of winning a million dollars since they are to supply ten questions about themselves which they will then have to answer correctly while on the show. (The later version of the scam changes that requirement to their having to supply answers to ten "selected Current Affairs Questions.")
Step: Five {5}
Step: Four {4}
Every successfully selected contester will be sent the contester standard Express Parcel containing the Oprah Millionaire Contest Show Form - With Ten {10} Personal Questions About Yourself To Answer Accurately, Oprah Winfrey Show Ticket Booklet, 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.
April 15Th, 2009 all the contesters will attend the NBC 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 contesters 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.
As to what the folks at Oprah.com have to say about these fraud attempts:
The Oprah Winfrey Show and Harpo Productions are warning viewers about a recent Authorities have told us that there are at least a dozen scams currently being perpetrated which promise tickets, travel and money from The Oprah Winfrey Show. You should know that Harpo never sells tickets or travel packages. You can click here for specific Harpo ticket information. Please be advised that anyone who has received a letter accompanied by a check announcing that the recipient is a winner in "The Oprah Show Summer Sweepstakes" should be aware that this letter is part of a recent scam and that the check is a counterfeit. While there was a "Summer Sweepstakes" in 2006, there was already a winner selected and the prize was claimed. We encourage anyone who receives a letter,
Questions About Sweepstakes Scams
Also:
Authorities have told us that there are at least a dozen scams currently being perpetrated which promise tickets, travel and money from The Oprah Show. You should know that Harpo never sells tickets or travel packages and you can click here for specific Harpo ticket information. Harpo also does not ask you to pay to either enter a sweepstakes or collect tickets, nor do we send unsolicited checks in the mail. If Harpo ever sponsors any kind of sweepstakes, it will be featured on Oprah.com—so always check our website to confirm if an offer is the real thing. Please be advised that anyone who has received a letter accompanied by a check announcing that the recipient is a winner in "The Oprah Show Summer Sweepstakes" should be aware that this letter is part of a recent scam and that the check is a counterfeit. While there was a "Summer Sweepstakes" in 2006, there was already a winner selected and the prize was claimed. We encourage anyone who receives a letter,
Questions About Sweepstakes Scams
Barbara "contested facts" Mikkelson
Last updated: 8 April 2009
![]() | Sources: |
Colker, David. "Oprah Winfrey Isn't Giving Away $1 Million." Los Angeles Times. 8 April 2009.