Are sweepstakes scams? Or, are sweepstakes real and legitimate?
Sweepstakes are 100% real. By law, a sweepstakes must have a few components:
Sweepstakes are marketing promotions that provide customers with an entry into a drawing of chance that gives them the opportunity to win a specific prize, product or service. … Sweepstakes are governed by the laws and regulations of the state and country in which the contestant lives. – Source: Klein Law
Giveaways can be either sweepstakes or contests – and also can be free sample opportunities, such as “we have 100,000 samples to give away.” Basically, giveaways are a promotion in which something is being given away.
Sweepstakes are giveaways in which a specified number of winners who enter as required by the rules, in a timely manner, will be randomly chosen to win a specific prize – all spelled out in the sweepstakes’ official rules. Some sweepstakes require purchase to enter, but many do not. We only share free-entry giveaways here on GimmieFreebies.com
In contrast, a contest is a promotion which provides people with an opportunity to win a prize based on merit. In other words, they may need to submit the best recipe, chosen by a panel of judges; or they may need to receive the most vote in a singing competition.
Looking for Real Legitimate Sweepstakes and Contests? We list all the best, most winnable giveaways right here!
So, how do you know if you’re really on the sweepstakes winners list?
How Do You Know if You Really Won a Sweepstakes?
If you win – really win – you’ll be notified by a legitimate company in the manner outlined in the Official Rules of the Sweepstakes you actually entered. Each legit sweepstakes has Official Rules, a document that is linked on the giveaway’s page or printed and available for review for in-person entries. The Official Rules might say something like, “winner will be notified by telephone using the number provided during entry.” Or, “Winner will be notified by email using the email provided during entry.” Furthermore, the Official Rules will state how long you have to claim your prize. For example, you may have seven days to respond once notified of the win.
Here’s an example of Official Rules from a legit sweepstakes.
How to tell if a sweepstakes is legitimate
It’s not always easy to spot a fake sweepstakes. Sweepstakes Scams are getting more clever, and the scammers are getting more bold! The days of receiving obviously spam emails made spotting a fake giveaway much easier. Now, scammers may reach out to you directly via text, Facebook messenger, or even call you on the phone, or show up at your door in person!
There are a number of known fake sweepstakes pages. If you check the Better Business Bureau, you’ll see most have an F rating.
A word about PCH sweepstakes. While Publisher’s Clearing House is a legitimate sweepstakes company, their entry process is very much in favor of no big prizes being awarded. However, it’s all luck and it totally could (and does!) happen. The problem is, scammers often pretend to be with PCH. Obviously they’re not, but that has given PCH a bad name.
Don’t let this scare you away from entering legitimate sweepstakes! Legit sweepstakes have nothing to do with scam sweepstakes. Avoiding one will not protect you from the other. The scammers find their victims randomly. They don’t have access to legit sweepstakes entries. So, enter the real sweepstakes, and keep reading to learn how to avoid the fake sweepstakes!
Looking for Real Legitimate Sweepstakes and Contests? We list all the best, most winnable giveaways right here!
How to Recognize Sweepstakes Scams
There are a few red flags of fake sweepstakes that mean a sweepstakes or alleged prize is not legitimate.
1. You win a Contest or Lottery you didn’t enter
If you’re notified that you won a huge prize in a Contest or LOTTERY you didn’t enter (if it’s possible you did enter but don’t remember, then this doesn’t apply)
2. You’re told you have to pay for a prize
Sweepstakes Scams often claim you have to pay to receive a prize, or pay taxes up front before getting prize, etc. Rule of thumb: Never pay for a prize!
3. Act Fast or lose your prize!
Fake Sweepstakes Scams “claims agent” may pressure you to act fast. If you won, you won. Real Sweepstakes have to specify in official rules how long the winner has to claim their prize.
4. Must provide Bank Info or Credit Card to Claim Prize
Sweeps Scammers may ask you for your bank information, or credit card, or social security number (note: legitimate sweepstakes may verify your SSN by asking you to provide tax forms and affidavits)
5. Random Check Arrives in Mail
Sweepstakes Scams might randomly send a check for a large amount without first notifying you and having you sign an affidavit (required for any giveaway prize over $600). Fake Sweepstakes Checks are no good, they will not clear the bank payment, and it may take up to a week or more for your bank to notify you that the check bounced. You will probably be charged by the bank (depending on your account type) for the bad check and if the scammers had you send part of the money back for taxes, you have lost more money.
6. Who are you again?
Scammers often do not know your name or information you would have used to enter
7. Claim to be with government
If they claim to be with the government “National Sweepstakes Board” (which doesn’t exist) or US Marshals (who do not actually award prizes)
8. Typos, Poor Grammar or Misspellings
Sweepstakes Scams often use poor grammar, misspell words or if English is clearly not their first language
9. Sent from Free Email Account
If the scammers send messages from a “free” email account, such as GMail, AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc., they’re probably not really with a large, established sweepstakes administrator or company offering the giveaway.
I’ve heard from fans who received PCH claims emails from what looked like legitimate accounts but upon further review, they were sent from a scammers’ free gmail account.
10. Junk Mail
Bulk Mail – also known as Junk Mail – is the preferred method to send Sweepstakes Scams fake prize notices because it costs much less than regular mail or FedEx or UPS. But, real prizes will not be sent by bulk mail.
11. Sit through a presentation to get your prize
If you’re told you have to attend a meeting to receive your prize, it’s not legitimate.
In conclusion, while there are 100% legitimate sweepstakes, it’s always a possibility that the prize you allegedly won is not legit. If in doubt, contact the company directly or check out the fraud reporting suggestions below.
Sweepstakes Fraud Reporting
So, what do you do if you’ve been targeted by a prize scam? After reading this, you’re aware how to spot a scam sweepstakes – but how do you report it?
- Report it to the Federal Trade Committee (FTC)
- Contact your state attorney general
- Check with your local consumer protection office
- And you can find your local media’s call for action lines
- If the prize promotion came in the mail, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service
We want you to be aware and stay safe online. After all, we are the home of the Big List of Fake Freebies to Avoid. We’ve spent over 8 years keeping our readers safe from online scams.
