Winning at
the sweepstakes can become a nightmare instead of a dream, if you are in the
clutches of a scammer. Sweepstake scams are a class of online fraud that is
widely prevalent across the World Wide Web. Recognizing the top warning signs
of a scam can save you money, effort and time. When do you know you're being
taken for a ride? Read on to know just how online fraud can be detected in time
and you can actually end up lucky by catching the sweepstakes scammer at their
own game.
#1 Sweepstakes Fraud Wants Payment for Releasing the Prize
Whether you
are the lucky winner or the runner up, don't let a sweepstakes scam cloud your
judgment. If the scammers are asking for your credit card information or some
form of payment, you can be sure it is an online fraud. Legitimate sweepstakes
never ask for fees to participate or take part in any contest. No handling
charges, service fees or other kinds of charges are received up front to secure
a win. If you are being approached for a payment, this is a sign there is a
sweepstake scam. Sweepstakes taxes are paid to the IRS along with regular tax
return, except for those exceptional circumstances such as hotel taxes or port
fees.
#2 Sweepstakes Use Free Email Accounts? They Could Be Freeloaders!
Check to
see if your win is coming from an official email address. Certain smaller,
legit sweepstakes sponsors can notify with free emails. But if you receive an
electronic mail from a large company such as Publishers Clearing House or
Microsoft, but the email arrives from a hotmail or gmail account, it is clear
you are dealing with sweepstake scammers. Scam artists may also spoof email
addresses so that they appear to be from legit companies.
#3 Sweepstakes Scammers Insist Contests Were Joined When You Don't
Remember Entering
This is oneof the most important signs of an online fraud. The fraudster gets details of
your account from social media or other places and then when you receive a
notification, the excitement of the moment may be enough to wipe out the
glaring point that you never entered the sweepstakes in the first place. To
make sure you are dealing with a legitimate company and not a fraudster, you
can call and verify winnings. Do not check the telephone number in the win
notification, unless it can be verified it is from a legit source like a phone
book.
#4 Sweepstakes Scammers Send Fake Checks With Win Notices
To deceive
people into thinking the sweepstake scam is legit, counterfeit checks will be
sent with phony notifications indicating you have won. Cashing in such checks
is tantamount to a crime and you could be fined for this, even made to close
the bank account and any cash you wired. In some countries, legit sweepstakes
even require affidavits before sending a prize valued above a certain amount.
#5 Sweepstake Scammers Ask For Money Wires
Criminals
use services such as Western Union and other money transfer channels to receive
funds that are illegal, and because these payment methods are untraceable, you
cannot get back the money the con artists have received. When money has to be
paid back to the sponsor, wire service should never be used. A new twist in the
tale is when sweepstakes scams have con artists asking victims to purchase
money cards and these let you transfer money without any hope of retrieving it.
#6 Sweepstake Scammers Pressurize Acting in a Hurry
Sweepstakes
scammers have an exceptionally logical reason for speed– they don't want to be
caught out and moving fast is the best way to ensure you are trapped in an
online fraud for good. If you are being pressurized to accept a prize, it is
generally a sweepstakes scam.
#7 Sweepstakes Scammers Don't Even Know Your Name!
Many
sweepstakes scammers send thousands of fake emails to every address they can
get their hand on without knowing the people they have contacted. Generic
greetings and salutations like Hi or Dear Sir/Madam are used to avert
suspicion. The scammer may also use poor
grammar or faulty spellings which is another indication of his/her true
origins. Professional sweepstakes will notify using official mail that is
checked for spellings and accuracy. Online fraud is a surefire way criminals
can strike lucky, so be alert and avoid handing them the winning number!
