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Avoiding Sweepstakes Scams

Every day, thousands of American consumers receive sweepstakes promotions-but not all sweepstakes offers are legitimate. It’s important to be able to spot the scams.
Legitimate sweepstakes are marketing techniques that help marketers draw attention to their product by offering to consumers a chance to win a prize or money with no payment required. If you have to pay to collect your prize, the sweepstakes is a scam.
“You should never have to pay to win sweepstakes or collect a legitimate sweepstakes prize,” warns the Chief Postal Inspector. Whenever you’re required to make a payment before you can collect your prize that is your clue that you are not dealing with a legitimate sweepstakes company.
Did they ask you to wire money or make a payment in an urgent manner? Do you feel pressure to make a payment within a given time deadline to collect your prize? Do they ask for your credit card number, bank account information? If so, take a step back and evaluate the sweepstakes. Contact your postal inspector or law enforcement agency to verify that you are dealing with a legitimate business.