I was sent an email from AustinEnergy told I had won a good bit of bread and also told that they would send me a check. I only had to send my mailing address, and my phone number to confirm it. I went ahead and did that. I do think I entered the contest. It sounds very familial but the next day I get a email saying that I could exspedite the arrival of my prize by paying a fee upfront for taxs and processing however it did not say what the fee amount was. I went with the thinking that I would simply trust registered mail and not do anything to exspedite my prize. Straight up ,I think its a scam but It looks very legit and I think I entered it. I enter for all the money prizes I can but I have never heard of paying to exspedite your prize in a legitimate sweeps. Does anyone have any knowledge about this sweeps? Thanks in advance Amyleda
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Is this a scam? Please give opinions.
- Thread starter amyleda
- Start date
If you won a large amount of money, you would probably be sent an affidavit to get notarized.
You would not be asked to send money to pay taxes - you know that is not how you pay your taxes, right? You would report it and if you owe money, you would take care of it next year when you file your taxes, but that is between you and the feds or state, not the sponsor! Sending money now to the sponsor/fulfillment agency is not the timing or method to pay taxes, but it is very suspicious.
I did a Google search, but would need more information. You can search using some of the wording or contact information you received.
You should not send any money or give out any more personal information. Get more information, names, a copy of the official rules, title of the sweepstakes etc. If it is real you can then verify that it is real, and if you did enter it, but do not provide money or information.
The fact that you are being asked for money to expedite your prize and to pay taxes makes it sound like a scam. It sounds like someone is trying to get something from you, not give you something.
You would not be asked to send money to pay taxes - you know that is not how you pay your taxes, right? You would report it and if you owe money, you would take care of it next year when you file your taxes, but that is between you and the feds or state, not the sponsor! Sending money now to the sponsor/fulfillment agency is not the timing or method to pay taxes, but it is very suspicious.
I did a Google search, but would need more information. You can search using some of the wording or contact information you received.
You should not send any money or give out any more personal information. Get more information, names, a copy of the official rules, title of the sweepstakes etc. If it is real you can then verify that it is real, and if you did enter it, but do not provide money or information.
The fact that you are being asked for money to expedite your prize and to pay taxes makes it sound like a scam. It sounds like someone is trying to get something from you, not give you something.
I was sent an email from AustinEnergy told I had won a good bit of bread and also told that they would send me a check. I only had to send my mailing address, and my phone number to confirm it. I went ahead and did that. I do think I entered the contest. It sounds very familial but the next day I get a email saying that I could exspedite the arrival of my prize by paying a fee upfront for taxs and processing however it did not say what the fee amount was. I went with the thinking that I would simply trust registered mail and not do anything to exspedite my prize. Straight up ,I think its a scam but It looks very legit and I think I entered it. I enter for all the money prizes I can but I have never heard of paying to exspedite your prize in a legitimate sweeps. Does anyone have any knowledge about this sweeps? Thanks in advance Amyleda
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If you Google "Austin Energy scam" a few scams come up, but not as you described.
You may want to read these and look at the others:
http://allaboutaustintexas.com/tag/austin-energy-scam-alert/
http://www.austinenergy.com/About Us/Newsroom/Press Releases/2013/scam.html
You may want to read these and look at the others:
http://allaboutaustintexas.com/tag/austin-energy-scam-alert/
http://www.austinenergy.com/About Us/Newsroom/Press Releases/2013/scam.html
***Did I win - is this a SCAM?
As everyone here knows, I'm BIG on following the rules. I always assume people don't intentionally break them, just that they aren't aware, so I post the limits.
rule of thumb:
1} Did I enter this sweeps?
2} Is the email address consistent with the sponsor/promo?
3} Is the prize I "won" listed as a prize if it was a sweeps I entered?
If NO to any of the above, it's a scam.
While there are a few sponsors who will charge to ship your prize, they are rare, and they *never* charge to send money!
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/newbies/2235-top-10-signs-your-win-really-sweepstakes-scam.html
As everyone here knows, I'm BIG on following the rules. I always assume people don't intentionally break them, just that they aren't aware, so I post the limits.
rule of thumb:
1} Did I enter this sweeps?
2} Is the email address consistent with the sponsor/promo?
3} Is the prize I "won" listed as a prize if it was a sweeps I entered?
If NO to any of the above, it's a scam.
While there are a few sponsors who will charge to ship your prize, they are rare, and they *never* charge to send money!
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/newbies/2235-top-10-signs-your-win-really-sweepstakes-scam.html
Sweepstakes Scams - Warning Signs of Sweepstakes Scams
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:
If you won a large amount of money, you would probably be sent an affidavit to get notarized.
They also should have linked you to a copy of the official rules
Yes I do know that's not how people pay taxes but I have heard about casinos giving paperwork where its done right away so I thought maybe this was something like that. Fact is I have never won a huge money prize. I did once win a lottery ticket for $ 2000 and in that case I paid at tax time and had to pay taxs to two different states. Thanks everyone for your help. Its greatly appreciated.
Yes I do know that's not how people pay taxes but I have heard about casinos giving paperwork where its done right away so I thought maybe this was something like that. Fact is I have never won a huge money prize. I did once win a lottery ticket for $ 2000 and in that case I paid at tax time and had to pay taxs to two different states. Thanks everyone for your help. Its greatly appreciated.
Yeah, the casinos will withhold - foreign nationals pay automatically, US citizens have to ask.
As sweepers, we are targets of these unscrupulous types.
Sounds like you gave them info they already had, so no harm, no foul - I'd dig a little deeper & report/block the email address.
Thanks, amyleda, I have no personal experience with casinos, lotteries or large wins, so I didn't know about paying some taxes at the time of the win. It just struck me as a red flag, but I also learned from your post.
Yes I do know that's not how people pay taxes but I have heard about casinos giving paperwork where its done right away so I thought maybe this was something like that. Fact is I have never won a huge money prize. I did once win a lottery ticket for $ 2000 and in that case I paid at tax time and had to pay taxs to two different states. Thanks everyone for your help. Its greatly appreciated.
Thanks I got another email about how to proceed and I told them they could send me my prize or an affidavit but I wasn't paying for anything. The email matchs the company name. I seem to recall entering for a large money prize on a facebook promotion with the name Austin Energy but I do not always write down every sweeps I enter. I was doing that for the longest time but found with family and everything else sometimes I would be like I only have an hour and Im going to enter as many as I can as fast as I can so I would not write them down as I was rushing.Thanks I will let you guys know an update when Its sorted out.