Contest phone call for verification, not a winner yet?

[amandafg]

Hey to all you pros,

I received a phone call from a representative of a contest that I entered. He was verifying all of my info that I submitted and then described what will happen if I am chosen. I am not chosen (yet), but I am wondering: How common is this? Have any of you received a call like this and NOT received the prize? Just curious as this is new to me.

Thanks for any responses.

 

[mswolfe]

it would make me a little nervous..... why would they be verifying if you had not won?? I hope I am wrong and you won big time!!

 

[amyshulk]

Hey to all you pros,

I received a phone call from a representative of a contest that I entered. He was verifying all of my info that I submitted and then described what will happen if I am chosen. I am not chosen (yet), but I am wondering: How common is this? Have any of you received a call like this and NOT received the prize? Just curious as this is new to me.

Thanks for any responses.

amandafg - this may help:

Thread: Top 10 Signs that Your Win is Really a Sweepstakes Scam

https://www.sweepsadvantage.com/for...0-signs-your-win-really-sweepstakes-scam.html

12 Warning Signs of Sweepstakes Scams (Stay Safe!)

1. You Need to Pay to Receive the Prize
2. You Don't Recognize the Sweepstake
3. You Receive a Large Check with your Notification
4. You Are Asked to Wire Money
5. You Are Pressured to Act in a Hurry
6. You Need to Provide Bank or Credit Card Info to Receive Your Prize
7. The Win is From a Lottery
8. The Win is From a Foreign Lottery
9. The Notification is From a Government Organization
10. The Notification is Sent Via Bulk Mail

Read the article for more info :wave:


badgercontest went more in depth;

Some steps I use to ensure legitimacy:

1. Ask yourself if this is a sweepstakes that you remember entering. If you never entered for the prize that you just "won" the odds of being a scam are probably high.
2. The notification should come from a business or prize service e-mail address. Anything from an e-mail that anyone can create (IE: @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com, @gmail.com, @outlook.com etc. is a red flag.)
3. Correspondence should look professional. Any forms to be filled out and returned should look like they're from a business. IE: Not a bunch of misspellings, bad grammar, etc.

4. If you need to return any forms make sure they are going to a business e-mail address or a company street address/fax # (Just Google the street address or phone # to check)... either of the company putting on the sweeps or the sweepstakes service company administering it. IE: Don't send anything with your SS# to a residential address or a PO Box.
Note: Any prize won with a value of $600 or more WILL require you to submit your Social Security # to the company for tax purposes. This does NOT mean it's a scam. Some companies will also require it for prizes with values under $600.

5. Don't send anyone $ in order to claim a prize. Anything tax-related you will do on your own with federal/state filings.
6. All "foreign lotteries" are scams. Either that or the UK owes me a ton of money. har har.

7. Be careful with what sweeps you are entering. A sweepstakes from Coca-Cola is much safer to enter than from "WinMoneyNOW! LLC" or whatever. Prevention is the best medicine sometimes. Sites like sweepsadvantage are good because 95% of the sweeps they post/screen I feel comfortable with entering. Just avoid anything that gives you bad feelings... always safer that way.

Good luck with your sweeping!

ALSO;

Recognize Sweepstakes Scams that Ask for Too Much Sensitive Information
https://www.thebalance.com/how-much-information-sweepstakes-886990

By Sandra Grauschopf Updated June 21, 2016

Asking for too much sensitive information is one of the signs of a sweepstakes scam. Some unscrupulous people take advantage of their victim's hopes of winning sweepstakes to lure them into providing information that can be used for identity theft.

And yet, even legitimate sweepstakes ask for so much personal information that it can be difficult to tell what's reasonable and what's not.

 

[amyshulk]

amandafg - which promo? Is it one where they pick the GP from finalists who have to do some task perhaps?

 

[amandafg]

It was definitely a legit contest, as I recall entering. They didn't ask for anything from me... yet, I guess. They were just verifying that I entered. I just never had that before happen. Thanks for all your responses.

 

[amyshulk]

I figured that out AFTER I posted all that so I also asked:

amandafg - which promo? Is it one where they pick the GP from finalists who have to do some task perhaps?

Oh well, maybe it will help another member

It was definitely a legit contest, as I recall entering. They didn't ask for anything from me... yet, I guess. They were just verifying that I entered. I just never had that before happen. Thanks for all your responses.

 

[amandafg]

Hi, sorry for not responding. Yes, though I can't recall the bank name, it is a bank sponsor. For veterans, for their mortgage to be paid for a year. Four are chosen to travel to an Army vs. Navy football game, then during half time the four semifinalists go onto the field and the winner is chosen. That is what the guy on the phone told me. I said I'd have to buy a coat if I get chosen. Cold in Pennsylvania in December! haha

 

[amyshulk]

Ah - wasn't NFCU Navy Federal Credit Union was it? I don't recall getting any sweepstakes/contest info w/my monthly statement

Yeah - we spent part of my 30 days leave for back to back overseas duty {Bermuda to Cuba - GITMO] in PA [Minersville] in January w/my In-Laws shortly after our son was born & it was so dang cold I got sicker than a dog!

Hi, sorry for not responding. Yes, though I can't recall the bank name, it is a bank sponsor. For veterans, for their mortgage to be paid for a year. Four are chosen to travel to an Army vs. Navy football game, then during half time the four semifinalists go onto the field and the winner is chosen. That is what the guy on the phone told me. I said I'd have to buy a coat if I get chosen. Cold in Pennsylvania in December! haha

 

[amyshulk]

I just got an email from Task & Purpose for The BBMC Mortgage 2017 Veteran’s Free Mortgage for a Year Sweepstakes - active duty/vets only

Prizes: (1) Grand Prize will be awarded: BBMC Mortgage will pay the home mortgage of the winner for (12) months, up to $2,500.00 per month (or $30,000.00 over the course of the (12) months).

Mortgage account holders must provide proof of mortgage or rental payment in order to receive that amount (up to $30,000.00).

(4) Second Place Prizes will be awarded: BBMC Mortgage will pay the airfare, two (2) nights stay in a hotel and game tickets for the (4) Second Place Prize winners, along with one (1) guest for each Second Place Prize winner, to attend the 2017 Army-Navy football game.

(4) Second Place Prizes. The Second Place Prize cannot be sold or transferred. If the winner is under 21 years of age, he or she is required to be accompanied by someone over 21 years of age. All federal, state and local taxes associated with the prize are the responsibility of the winner (or parent/legal guardian if winner is deemed a minor), as applicable.

 

[amandafg]

That must be it! I wonder if they chose the winners yet.