There are plenty of reputable contests and sweepstakes out there (including some from AARP). But there are also a lot of bad players looking to bilk you out of your money.
How It Works:
You’re told you’ve won a prize but:
You have to pay a fee to collect your winnings;
You have to wire money to a well-known company to insure delivery of the prize;
You have to deposit a check they have sent you;
Your notice was mailed by bulk rate; or
You have to attend a sales meeting to win.
What You Should Know:
You can’t win a contest you didn’t enter. Don’t believe claims that you were automatically entered.
What You Should Do:
Be vigilant. The Federal Trade Commission recommends looking up a contest or promoter in a search engine with the words “scam” or “complaint”.
Warn others. If you think you’ve been targeted by a prize scam, report it at www.ftc.gov/complaint and share on the Fraud Watch Network scam-tracking map.
When it comes to fraud, vigilance is our number one weapon. You have the power to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams. Please share this alert with friends and fami