Only enter sweepstakes from companies you are familiar with or someone you trust has referred you to (beware of unknown companies or companies you have barely heard of). You want to trust the company you will be working with, should you win. Think about it. If a company says you won a trip to Mexico, you want to know you can contact that company should anything go wrong. If you're in the middle of a foreign country and you were dropped off in the middle of nowhere, who will you contact if the one phone number you have for this company suddenly "is no longer in service"?
NEVER pay money to enter a sweepstakes or anytime before you receive the prize, even if they claim it is a "refundable" deposit. Some ask you to pay a fee before you receive the prize...this is almost definitely a scam, so don't get yourself caught. There are so many sweepstakes to enter that are free, paying for an entry just don't make sense.
"No Purchase Necessary"- It's the law! You are supposed to have an equal chance of winning, whether or not you order. According to the Direct Marketing Association, the US Postal Inspection Service, and Call for Action, Inc, "the law strictly prohibits these false representations in sweepstakes
promotions:
- That the recipient is a winner, unless that person has actually won a prize
- That the recipient must order to enter
- That an entry must be sent in with payment for a previous purchase
- That the recipient must make a purchase in order to receive future sweepstakes
mailings - A fake check, if it does not include a statement on it that it is non-negotiable and has no cash value
- Any seal, name, or term that implies a federal government connection, approval
or endorsement"
Read the rules ~ be sure to read and understand the rules before you enter, and intend on following them. If you can't find the rules or they don't make sense to you, you probably should not enter the sweepstakes. As you read the rules of the sweepstakes, be sure you are eligible ad can agree to the terms. This may include agreeing to announce your name as the winner and a photo for publicity. The rules should also spell out the odds of winning, how a winner will be determined, and when the drawing will occur, as well as the value of the prize. You will also find an address for the company where entries can be sent or a list of winners may be requested. If you don't see all these things, you should not enter the sweepstakes.
Know the sponsors. Be sure they are the actual companies you think they are and not another company with a name similar to a company you know. You want to know you can trust them.
Remember what you enter - if you get a call from someone saying you filled out a form, either you won or you want out. Unless you read all the fine print, you might learn the hard way that your information was sold and that you are now on a cold-call list. If you never entered the sweepstakes, then you never won, even if they call you saying you did.
Only enter if it is a prize you really want and you know you will take advantage of. Otherwise it's not worth entering - you are wasting everyone's time, and someone else could have made use of the prize.
"Legitimate sweepstakes require affidavits before sending out any prize valued at more than $600" according to About.com, so if you receive a big check in the mail saying you've won, don't cash it! It's a scam and can result in legal implications and a hold on you bank account.
The addresses below are where you should turn if you suspect a fraudulent sweepstakes:
US POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE
OPERATIONS SUPPORT GROUP
222 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 1250
CHICAGO, IL 60606-6100
800.372.8347
http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20580-0001
877.FTC.HELP
www.ftc.gov
All this being said, you don't have to be afraid of entering sweepstakes, just be educated and aware ~ and have fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment