Bill Gates/Microsoft Chain-letter E-mails

About

Bill Gates / Microsoft is one of the most popular subjects for chain-letter e-mails that have been circulating since 1994.

Origin

One of the earliest instances of Bill Gates being referenced in a chain letter e-mail occurred around 1994 in e-mail claiming that Bill Gates is actually the Antichrist:

Dear Friends, Please take time to read all that is written here!!! This is for your info and please share this to all your friends with or without e-mail… Thank you and God bless…

DO YOU KNOW THAT BILL GATES' REAL NAME IS WILLIAM HENRY GATES III? HIS OFFICIAL REAL NAME NOW IS BILL GATES III. SO WHAT'S SO EERIE ABOUT THIS NAME? OK, IF YOU TAKE ALL THE LETTERS IN BILL GATES III AND THEN CONVERT IT IN ASCIII CODE (American Standard Code for Information and Interchange) AND THEN ADD UP ALL THE NUMBERS YOU WILL GET 666 WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST!!! SICK!!! COINCIDENCE HUH? NOPE. TAKE WINDOWS 95 AND DO THE SAME PROCEDURE AND YOU WILL GET 666, TOO! AND THE SAME GOES FOR MS-DOS 6.31!!! SICKO, RIGHT!!!

OK THAT'S THE FIRST PART. NOW FOR THE SECOND PART… FOR THOSE FELLOWS WHO STILL HAVE THE OLD EXCEL '95 (NOT OFFICE '97) TRY THIS OUT:

1. Open a new file;

2. Scroll down until you see row 95;

3. Click on the Row 95 button, this will highlight the whole row;

4. Press tab to move to the second column;

5. Now, move your mouse and click on help THEN about microsoft excel;

6. press ctrl-alt-shift and click on the tech support button simultaneously;

7. A WINDOW WILL APPEAR WITH TITLE : THE HALL OF TORTURED SOULS… This is eerie … it has doom style format and you can walk around the hall … and on the sides of the walls are the names of the tortured souls…

8. NOW WALK UP THE STAIRS AND COME BACK DOWN, FACE THE BLANK WALL AND THEN TYPE EXCELKFA… this will open the blank wall to reveal another secret passage, walk through the passage and do not fall off… when you get to the end you will see something really eerie.. At this point in time, countless witnesses all over the world have verified this point… it's really an eye-opener. It could be a joke by MS Programmers or is it really?

Wouldn't be surprised if Bill Gates is "The AntiChrist." After all, it was already foretold in the Bible that someone powerful would rise up and lead the world to destruction. Bill Gates definitely has that kind of power in his hands. More than 80% pf the world's computers run on Windows and Dos (including those at Pentagon!) If all his products have some kind of small program embedded (like the Hall of Tortured Souls) that can give him control, setting off nuclear arsenals, creating havoc in security systems, financial systems all over the world, etc… all from his headquarters isn't a far-off reality! Just using Internet Explorer may just allow him to map out what you have on your computer bit by bit each time you log on. perhaps the endtimes are near and this is just the tip of the iceberg!

"HE ALSO FORCED EVERYONE, SMALL AND GREAT, RICH AND POOR, FREE AND SLAVE, TO RECEIVE A MARK ON HIS RIGHT HAND OR ON HIS FOREHEAD, SO THAT NO ONE COULD BUY OR SELL UNLESS HE HAD THE MARK, WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE BEAST OR THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME. THIS CALLS FOR WISDOW. IF ANYONE HAS INSIGHT, LET HIM CALCULATE THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST, FOR IT IS MAN'S NUMBER. HIS NUMBER IS 666…." – Revelations 13: 16-18

This is an e-mail for us to think about… The Bible, in the Book of Revelations says, without the sign of the beast one would not be able to buy, sell, do business transactions, etc….. and… the question boggling us is whether Internet is now a necessity in doing business?? The Internet also bears the sign…

Note that the internet is also commony known as the World Wide Web or WWW… One way to write WWW is V/ (VI):

WWW V/ V/ V/ 666
Something to ponder upon, right? Isn't it that everything's going towards the Internet? Isn't it that Microsoft is always on the move to have monopoly when it comes to software technology? And now the Internet…

Revelations also say that the mark of the beast will be carried on one's hand and one's forehead… Of the Internet would indeed be the sign of the beast, aren't we all starting to carry it in our hands and foreheads? Screens (foreheads) and mouse (hands)? Are things finally falling into place or are we just letting our imagination run wild?? Remember, THE DEVIL CAME TO CHEAT, STEAL, AND TO DESTROY… SO BE VIGILANT!

About Bill Gates and Microsoft: Proof that Bill Gates is the devil: The real name of Bill Gates is William Henry Gates III. Nowadays, he is known as Bill Gates (III), where III means order of the third (3rd). In converting the letters of his current name to ASCII- VALUES:


B – 66
I – 73
L – 76
L – 76
G – 71
A – 65
T – 84
E – 69
S – 83
I – 1
I – 1
I – 1
-----
666
-----
THE NUMBER OF THE DEVIL….
We might ask, How did Bill Gates get so powerful? Coincidence or… Is it the beginning of mankind's ultimate and total enslavement??? To agree or to disagree on the WWW or the beast is not the argument… What if WWW is 666 or Bill Gates the Beast? What will you do? Cancel subscriptions to the Internet? Resign from Microsoft? Set out a campaign against Bill Gates? Shut down all Windows 95 forever? It will not do you any good…. A Christian friend of mine had sent this to me and I feel the urge to share the same to all of you… I am not convincing anyone to believe whatever is written here… who am I to judge anyway? But let us all think about this and pray…. pray really hard for God's guidance and intervention… Never stop believing! God bless us all!

Bill Gates E-mail Beta Test

The most famous Bill Gates e-mails, however, originate from something called the "Bill Gates E-mail Beta Test," (also known as "Bill Gates is sharing his fortune") a famous e-mail chain letter started sometime in 1997 as a prank by Iowa State student, Bryan Mack. Multiple remakes of the letter have since surfaced.

The most widely read variation claims America Online and Microsoft are conducting a beta test and that, apparently, you will receive money from Bill Gates himself, the amount depending on how many people forward the e-mail to. The most popular Bill Gates chain letter states that for every person that you forward the email to, Microsoft will pay you $245, for every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243, for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $241, and so on. Within two weeks, Microsoft will supposedly contact you for your address and send you the check. A less common version involves AOL and Intel, but not Microsoft.

Because of the incentive of money, along with realistic contact information for a lawyer (at least, in the most circulated variation), the e-mail spread quickly and has still been seen circulating since 2007.

While there are many other Bill Gates chain-letter e-mails, the overwhelming majority of them use the allure of money to encourage people to forward the message.

Beta Test Origin

According to Wired and Glires.com, Iowa State student Bryan Mack sent the first "Beta Test" e-mail as a inside joke between friends after seeing a spam e-mail. The original e-mail was sent to to one person.

Diagram from Email Hoaxes: Form, Function, Genre Ecology by Theresa Heyd

The Original, 18 Nov 1997 (Note the simplicity of this version):

Subject: bill gates here

Hello everybody,
 My name is Bill Gates. I have just written up an e-mail tracing program that traces everyone to whom this message is forwarded to. I am experimenting with this and I need your help. Forward this to everyone you know and if it reaches 1000 people everyone on the list will receive $1000 at my expense. Enjoy.
 Your friend,
  Bill
  Gates

Version 2, Feb 1998 (Note the promotion of the then new Windows 98 and fixed grammar):

 Subject: Re: FW: PLEASE READ! YOULL BE GLAD YOU DID! (fwd)
FROM: GatesBeta@microsoft.com
ATTACH: Tracklog@microsoft.com/Track883432/~TraceActive/On.html

Hello Everyone,
And thank you for signing up for my Beta Email Tracking Application or (BETA)for short. My name is Bill Gates. Here at Microsoft we have just compiled an e-mail tracing program that tracks everyone to whom this message is forwarded to. It does this through an unique IP (Internet Protocol) address log book database. We are experimenting with this and need your help. Forward this to everyone you know and if it reaches 1000 people everyone on the list you will receive $1000 and a copy of Windows98 at my expense. Enjoy.

Note: Duplicate entries will not be counted. You will be notified by email with further instructions once this email has reached 1000 people. Windows98 will not be shipped unitl it has been released to the general public.

Your friend,
Bill Gates & The Microsoft Development Team.

Version 3, Spring 1998 (Nike and Microsoft)

 Dear Student,

 We at Nike are of the philosophy that the stronger the body, the stronger the mind. It is because of this philosophy that we are offering free Nike shoes and clothing as part of a contest that all of you are invited to participate in. Microsoft Corp. has developed a new e-mail tracing system and is currently offering us the opportunity to help test their system. With the use of this new technology, we bring a contest to you. We ask that you forward this e-mail to your fellow students.

 After one month of testing the tracing software, we will randomly select 500 names from the list of recipients and each will be given their choice of a gift certificate for $120.00 toward any purchase of Nike shoes or apparel.

 Thank you and good luck.

 Computer systems manager: Alan Whitman

 E-mail: swoosh@nike.com

 NIKE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT: Beaverton, OR

Version 4, May 1998 (Updated Nike and Microsoft e-mail)

 Nike is proud to announce that we now not only lead the industry in technology used to develop high quality athletic shoes and apparel, but we have also recently entered into a joint venture with Microsoft. Many of you may have heard about the e-mail tracking program that was recently developed by Bill Gates. Now, Microsoft is allowing us to use this system to find our most reliable customers and offer them great discounts or even free shoes. If you are interested in receiving discounts on much of our newest merchandise, then simply forward this message to at least one person. When you forward the message, we receive a notice telling us your e-mail address and the number of people that you forwarded this message to.

 The first 500 people to forward this message to 50 or more people, will receive a free pair of Nike shoes (retail value $119.99 or less). You will be notified by e-mail about how to obtain your free shoes or discount coupons. Thank you for helping us with our first Internet marketing campaign. Please visit our website at www.nike.com.

Version 5, Aug 1998 (Note the newfound "complexity" of the forwarding rules):

Subject: Let's all go to Disney World

 WALT DISNEY JR. GREETING

 Hello Disney fans,

And thank you for signing up for Bill Gates' Beta Email Tracking My name is Walt Disney Jr. Here at Disney we are working with Microsoft which has just compiled an e-mail tracing program that tracks everyone to whom this message is forwarded to. It does this through an unique IP (Internet Protocol) address log book database.

 We are experimenting with this and need your help. Forward this to everyone you know and if it reaches 13,000 people, 1,300 of the people on the list will receive $5,000, and the rest will receive a free tripfor two to Disney World for one week during the summer of 1999 at our expense. Enjoy.

 Note: Duplicate entries will not be counted. You will be notified by email with further instructions once this email has reached 13,000 people.
 
 Your friends,
 Walt Disney Jr., Disney, Bill Gates, & The Microsoft Development Team.

Version 6, Oct 1999 (Last major revision to the hoax for a while):

 Subject: Fw: Check this out quickly and respond!


 I am forwarding this because the person who sent it to me is a very professional business person and a good friend and does not send me junk.

 Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet company and in an effort make sure that Internet explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOLare running an e-mail beta test. When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft can and will track it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period. For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $245.00, for every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243.00 and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact you for your address and then send you a check. I thought this was a scam myself, but two weeks after receiving this e-mail and forwarding it on, Microsoft contacted me for my e-mail and within days, I received a check for $24,800.00.

 You need to respond before the beta testing is over.

 If anyone can afford this Bill Gates is the man. It's all marketing expense to him.

 Do Well!!!

Version 7, Mar 2000 (Note the use of testimonials):

 Subject: Subject: Fwd: PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE READ!

 I just received this from my cousin in GA. who really does a great job with folloqup..So be blessed. Real money I'm an attorney, and I know the law. This thing is for real. Rest assured AOL and Intel will follow through with their promises for fear of facing a multimillion-dollar class action suit similar to the one filed by Pepsico against General Electric not too long ago. I'll be damned if we're all going to help them out with their e-mail test without getting a little something for our time. My brother's girlfriend got in on this a few months ago. When I went to visit him for the Baylor/UT game she showed me her check. It was for the sum of $4,324.44 and stamped "Paid In Full". Like I said before, I know the law, and this is for real. If you don't believe me you can email her at jpiltman@baylor.edu
 mailto:jpiltman@baylor.edu She's eager to answer any questions you guys might have.
 Thanks, Dirk. I know I'm already in.

 Moore, Dirk" wrote: If you don't do this, you must be really, really dumb.

 From: James M. Schwarnica
 This is not a joke. I am forwarding this because the person who sent it to me is a good friend and does not send me junk. Intel and AOL are now discussing a merger, which would make them the largest Internet Company and in an effort make sure that AOL remains the most widely used program, Intel and AOL are running an e-mail beta test. When you forward this e-mail to friends, Intel can and will track it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period. For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $203.15, for every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $156.29 and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $17.65 within two weeks, Intel will contact you for your address and then send you a check. I thought this was a scam myself, but a friend of my good friend's Aunt Patricia, who works at Intel actually got a check for $4,543.23 by forwarding this e-mail. Try it, what have you got to lose?

The Final Version, Jul 2000 (and the most well-known version):

 THIS TOOK TWO PAGES OF THE TUESDAY USA TODAY – IT IS FOR REAL

 Subject: PLEEEEEEASE READ!!!! it was on the news!

 To all of my friends, I do not usually forward messages, But this is from my good friend Pearlas Sandborn and she really is an attorney.

 If she says that this will work – It will work. After all, What have you got to lose? SORRY EVERYBODY.. JUST HAD TO TAKE THE CHANCE!!! I'm an attorney, And I know the law. This thing is for real. Rest assured AOL and Intel will follow through with their promises for fear of facing a multimillion-dollar class action suit similar to the one filed by PepsiCo against General Electric not too long ago.

 Dear Friends; Please do not take this for a junk letter. Bill Gates sharing his fortune. If you ignore this, You will repent 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.

 When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft can and will track it ( If you are a Microsoft Windows user) For a two weeks time period.

 For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $245.00 For every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243.00 and for every third person that receives it, You will be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact you for your address and then send you a check.

 I thought this was a scam myself, But two weeks after receiving this e-mail and forwarding it on. Microsoft contacted me for my address and withindays, I receive a check for $24,800.00. You need to respond before the beta testing is over. If anyone can affoard this, Bill gates is the man.

 It's all marketing expense to him. Please forward this to as many people as possible. You are bound to get at least $10,000.00. We're not going to help them out with their e-mail beta test without getting a little something for our time. My brother's girlfriend got in on this a few months ago. When i went to visit him for the Baylor/UT game. She showed me her check. It was for the sum of $4,324.44 and was stamped "Paid in full"

 Like i said before, I know the law, and this is for real.

 Intel and AOL are now discussing a merger which would make them the largest Internet company and in an effort make sure that AOL remains the most widely used program, Intel and AOL are running an e-mail beta test.

 When you forward this e-mail to friends, Intel can and will track it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period.

There are also many other versions (more than 30) that don't involve Microsoft or Bill Gates, but instead use different companies.

Response

Microsoft and Bill Gates himself have spoken out about the e-mails on several occasions. Microsoft does not use e-mail tracking systems (because they do not exist) and does not support the sending of similar e-mails.

There are also inherent flaws in the premise of the "Beta Test e-mail" (besides AOL and Microsoft working together). On Truthminers.com, mathematician Simon Nance calculated that in just three months of the e-mail's propagation, the email would theoretically cause Microsoft, AOL, and Intel to owe about "$226 Billion times 3.5 googol."

Spin-off

The e-mail below was created with humorous intent; it asks for your credit card information, has fake virus software information, and offers useless "reward money." (circulating since late 1998):

 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way, Bldg. 8, N. Office 2211
Redmond, WA 98052
USA

ATTENTION

 Thanks for your help in compiling the "email database." I am happy to report that the 1000 participant threshold was broken on December 2nd, 1997 with a final push from the Boston area. You and everyone else you forwarded that email to have just qualified for our $1000 COMPENSATION prize !!

 To claim your prize, simply respond to this email with your credit card number and expiration date and I will have someone from my office credit your account with the $1000.00 winnings.

 With Warmest Regards, Bill Gates

 ********* LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The Microsoft Corporation makes no claim and takes no responsibility for any damage that shall be caused by the EEVP (embedded executable virus program) which is now resident in the virtual memory of most if not all of the participants of the Late '97 E-Contest.

 The E-contest was actually a testbed for a new product we are developing called "V-TRACE98 v2.04". Within the past few months specialists in our VMTF accidentally discovered several new strains of EEVPs which cause particularly devastation to Netscape Communicator 4.0 software.

 VT98 is being marketed at network administrators (a consumer product is in development) as a virus tool to trace a new strain of embedded executable email viruses back to their original source and "extinguish the threat" by cleansing the network and all client machines of all EEVP viruses and all Netscape communications software. VT98 2.04 then refreshes the clients with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.5 (our latest release which has just been developed to combat EEVPs and other Netscape and Sun Microsystems JAVA software security weaknesses).

 Early estimates placed the trace limitation of such a program at 672 users. In actuality, we were able to trace the spread of the EEVP message back through 994 participants to our MSVSS (Microsoft Virus Seed Server) at the Microsoft VMTF here in Redmond. The E-contest virus distribution vehicle was quite successful!

 And so, we offer this generous COMPENSATION prize to our 1000 willing participants to address the effects of this new strain of EEVP. We hope that $1000.00 will be enough to cover the certain loss of most of the files on your hard drive(we valued at $257), not to mention the time and anguish (we valued at $43), and the general pain and suffering (valued at $93). This leaves you with exactly $607.00 which we expect you will most likely want to spend on a copy of our new program "E-SPAM BARRIER 98 v1.0" to prevent receiving our e-contest testbed messages in the future (priced at $597). Lastly, we thought we should leave you for a couple of stiff drinks (priced at $9 or $10).

 Happy Holidays!

References/External Links:

• “Microsoft/Aol Giveaway” at Snopes.com
• “Thousand Dollar Bill” at Snopes.com
• Urban Legends on About.com (Bill Gates Beta test)
• Urban Legends on About.com (Bill Gates is the Antichrist)
• “On Spam: Wasting time on the Internet” by Bill Gates
• “Copy This Article & Win Quick Cash!” from Wired.com
• “The History of a Chain E-Mail” at Glire.com
• Email Hoaxes: Form, Function, Genre Ecology By Theresa Heyd
• "“Free Stuff” at Truth Miners"::http://www.truthminers.com/truth/free_stuff.htm