So When they call you for a prize- do they leave a message?

wonderfluf

New member
This is something that I've been wondering about. Since I've started entering sweeps there have been a few strange numbers calling and they never leave a message. I figure they're just tellemarketers/scam calls. If you won wouldn't they email?
 
:wave: wonderfluf

This is where you "learn on the job" as it were, since there is no one answer. :crazytongue:

There are a few sweeps that state they will call on or about a certain date, and if you don't answer the phone, you lose out. Others will say they will try 3 times, etc.

I screen all calls, with the ringer off, so I check the rules and skip those that ONLY notify by phone. After you do this for awhile, you'll know who does that - Valpak and MTV used to, not sure if they still do or not?

Generally, if they ask for your phone number on the entry form as a required field, I look to see why. Some will let you know right on the form.
 
Thanks so much for the quick answer. I did get a call that was from a sweepstakes I'd entered, but I didn't answer until they called twice. I looked up the number first, it wasn't an official company number, on google and people had said it's a telemarketer. So I answered in a really annoying voice and kept saying what? who? LOL he finally hung up on me.
I'm just really new at this And I loath rude salemen.
Ok, so if I get a call from a sweepstakes I've entered and they ask questions, what are the appropriate questions for them to ask? What kind of information do they really need?
 
If you won a big prize, they would most likely send you paperwork, like an affidavit, to complete and get notarized. In that case, you would need to provide your email address or your home address.

It is important that you do not give out your social security number (unless required on an affidavit). You would not ever need to give your credit card information or bank account information.

I do not think you would be asked for much information over the phone. You should be very careful, and you could always ask for their phone number and call them back which would give you time to verify that they are legit and that you did enter their sweeps.

From my own experience, I have only received a handful of phone calls. One was for an item of jewelry. The sponsor wanted to know if I would accept the prize and wanted to make sure I knew I was responsible for paying taxes. Then, I was sent an affidavit via email.

Another phone call was for a prize pack (T-shirt, baseball hat, sunglasses). The sponsor wanted to confirm my mailing address before actually mailing the prize.

The third was for a hotel package. The sponsor wanted to confirm that I would accept the prize, and sent an affidavit via email.

So you see, there is a lot of variation, depending on how the sponsor chooses to contact you. Most of the time, I have received affidavits via regular mail, or Fedex, without prior phone notice.
 
So if they call would it be from the company name always? Like if I entered a sweepstakes from Discovery Channel would it say Discovery Channel on the caller ID? Or could it be something different? Secondly, they should only ask information such as your name, address, email, phone # and nothing else? Thank you so much for the suggestion of taking their number and calling them back. That's a great idea if I'm sceptical about it, I can see what's what before providing any information.
I would hate to think I missed out on this sweeps beng too cautious. But from what other people said this was just a telemarketer and they got my number because I had entered sweeps.
There are so many scam artists out there, I just need to know how to do it right and how things should be done.
 
Yes, you must continue to be careful and not let your guard down. Never give out any information if you are not sure. You can ask for the caller's full name and phone number, and a scammer might back down (or may be persistent).

I can't answer all your questions...I don't know what caller ID would say (but I remember that my phone calls looked legit from caller ID, that's why I answered). Also, I don't know how much information you would be asked over the phone. I do think that it is more likely that you would be asked to provide personal information via an affidavit, and not over the phone. If you accepted a large prize, you would usually be sent an affidavit to get notarized and return.

For me, phone calls for wins are rare, and phone calls from marketers even rarer.

I'm sure other people will respond and provide more tips.
 
This is why I'm asking because I know this is a board full of avid sweepstakes people who would know about what happens when a real company calls you for a win -vs- a telemarketing scam. I've had my own small business online for 12 years now and in the beginning when there where alot of 'wolves' telemarketing on me I had a simple solution . . . I very loud dog whistle. Not kidding I actually resorted to that because of one company calling me over and over. I would ask them time and time again to take us off their list but they just wouldn't listen. Maybe things have changed IDK? The do not call list has really helped lately. I don't want to miss any real sweepstakes wins though.
 
:wave: wonderfluf - if you googled the phone number and got hits for it being a telemarketer? 99% sure that's what it was - You probably entered a sweeps with a looser privacy policy.

I keep in mind that when a sponsor chooses to use their advertising money on a promotion {sweepstakes, contest, etc.} that they are looking for new customers and/or trying to keep the ones they have.

Some choose to ask if you'd like to subscribe to their newsletter, while others require that you subscribe. Some will ask if they may share your info, while others will require that you allow them to to enter.

We are free to decide what our comfort level is on every sweeps we enter, and it's on us to check out their privacy policy and decide when they go above that level.
 
Thank you for asking this as I have been sweeping for over 5 yrs and always wondered as I always have my ringer off and use caller I.D. and if I am awake and happen to have the TV on it will show a call coming in and a name or number and when I don't recognize it I don't answer it as I get a gang of call center stuff... so I wonder now if I have been missing out on some wins... Oh well, I guess not knowing I missed out is better than knowing I may have missed a big win. Lots of good info here.
 
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