Sweepstakes Scams for Seniors

Senior Safety: Sweepstakes Scams

Out of the top 10 scams in Florida , sweepstakes ones are at the top of the list. All too often you receive a call or a letter telling you that you are the winner of a trip to the Bahamas or a shipboard cruise. You are asked to pay only a minimal administrative fee. However, the trip never materializes and rather than having struck it rich you find that the promoters themselves are the ones holding all the money. By attaching magazine subscriptions, jewelry sales or other offers to sweepstakes' applications, promoters guarantee bigger sales and higher profits for themselves. Here are some tips to avoid getting taken by sweepstakes scams:

1. Don't be fooled by letters that look official or are marked "urgent." This is a technique used to get you to jump at an offer as soon as possible.

2. Promoters will use subtle means to convince you that making a purchase will help your odds of winning. Remember that you don't have to make a purchase to win. Promoters can't charge you even if it's through a purchase to enter a sweepstakes.

3. Don't call 900 area code phone numbers to see if you are a winner. This permit you to make a direct call that you will be charged for.

4. Refuse to pay delivery fees, taxes, or other charges that are claimed by the promoter to be necessary in order to collect a prize. Prizes are free.

5. Watch out for offers asking you to use a courier or overnight delivery service; these are methods of payment used by fraudulent telemarketers who want to avoid mail fraud charges.

6. Don't give out your checking/credit card account numbers or your social security number on the phone unless you know the company's reputation. To check a promoters reputation, contact the Better Business Bureau.

7. Don't believe that you have to make a quick on-the-spot decision when approached by telemarketers advertising contests and sweepstakes.

8. Read all contracts carefully before signing them and always remember that if it seems to good to be true, then it probably is!