How do you know if a sweepstakes is legit?
Sweepstakes promoters often send documents that resemble a check, money order, or wire transfer instructions. Oftentimes, these checks will have your name on them. These are NOT REAL and are mailed to EVERYONE! Do not be fooled into believing that you are receiving actual money or a special mailing; and.
What are the warning signs of lottery and sweepstakes scams?
You get a call or an online solicitation claiming you’ve won a prize in a sweepstakes you don’t recall entering or haven’t heard of before. You’re told you need to make an upfront payment to collect the prize.
How do sweepstakes scams work?
The deception starts when a scammer reaches out to you with either a phone call, an email, a piece of direct mail, or a social media notification offering congratulations for winning some big contest. But there’s one big catch, you’ll be asked to pay a fee, taxes, or even customs duties to claim your prize.
What are travel scams?
The Sauce Trick. Essentially, the method is to divert your attention away from your valuables and onto something else.
What can a scammer do with my name and phone number?
By having your cell number, a scammer could trick caller ID systems and get into your financial accounts or call financial institutions that use your phone number to identify you. Once the scammer convinces your carrier to port out your number, you may never get it back. Scam porting is a big problem for phone owners.
How do I know if I’m being scammed in a sweepstakes?
Wrong. If the check is worth more than $600, it’s a sure sign that you’re being scammed. To fool people into thinking that sweepstakes scams are legitimate, con artists send counterfeit checks along with their phony win notifications.
Are there any legitimate sweepstakes and contests?
There are many legitimate sweepstakes and contests out there, and the idea of winning some fabulous prize can be mighty alluring. Con artists get that, and they exploit your eagerness to score that big check or dream trip. Sweepstakes and lottery scams have been around for a long time, and they’re still going strong.
How do sweepstakes Notifications get delivered?
When legitimate sweepstakes sponsors send out win notifications, they use first class postage or services such as FedEx or UPS to deliver them. Sweepstakes scam artists, on the other hand, want to target the most people at the least cost in order to keep their profits high.
Do you know how to avoid Prize scams?
Do beware your own eagerness. An FTC survey found that those who reported a high willingness to take risks were three times more likely to become victims of fraudulent prize promotions than those with a low willingness. Don’t ever pay a fee to claim a prize you’ve supposedly won or to improve your chances of winning.