Prize and Contest Scams - Revision history

Drew Jackson: /* Preventing problems */

2017-04-25T21:03:32Z

Preventing problems

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:03, 25 April 2017
Line 29:		Line 29:
	Here are ways to reduce the risk of being the victim of a prize or contest scam.		Here are ways to reduce the risk of being the victim of a prize or contest scam.

	===1. Examine any offer carefully===		===Examine any offer carefully===
	Read the terms and conditions of any offer very carefully. Claims of ~~“free”~~ or very cheap offers often have hidden costs.		Read the terms and conditions of any offer very carefully. Claims of "free" or very cheap offers often have hidden costs.

	===~~2. Don’t~~ pay to participate ===		===Don't pay to participate ===
	Don't pay to enter a contest. Buying things won't increase your chances of winning. Don't call or text phone numbers beginning with 1-900 unless you are aware of the costs involved.		Don't pay to enter a contest. Buying things won't increase your chances of winning. Don't call or text phone numbers beginning with 1-900 unless you are aware of the costs involved.

	===3. Protect your personal information===		===Protect your personal information===
	Never give your credit card number to someone who claims they will "deposit winnings" in your account.		Never give your credit card number to someone who claims they will "deposit winnings" in your account.

Drew Jackson at 21:02, 25 April 2017

2017-04-25T21:02:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:02, 25 April 2017
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Law-Related ESL Badge		{{Law-Related ESL Badge
	\|lessonname= Scams to Avoid Lesson Module}}{{REVIEWEDPLS \| reviewer = [[People's Law School]]\|date= March 2017}}{{Scams to Avoid TOC}}		\|lessonname= Scams to Avoid Lesson Module}}{{REVIEWEDPLS \| reviewer = [[People's Law School]]\|date= March 2017}}{{Scams to Avoid TOC}}
	~~{{ambox~~		"Congratulations! You have just won a free holiday in sunny Mexico!" Tempting, no doubt. But all too often, offers of a "free" prize turn out to be scams.
	~~\| type = content~~
	~~\| small = center~~
	~~\| image =~~
	~~\| smallimage =~~
	~~\| textstyle =~~
	~~\| text = This page is in the process of being updated. Please check back shortly.<br>~~
	~~\| smalltext =~~
	}}
	~~“Congratulations~~! You have just won a free holiday in sunny Mexico!” Tempting, no doubt. But all too often, offers of a ~~“free”~~ prize turn out to be scams.

	==~~Scam 11.~~ Fake lottery scams==		==Fake lottery scams==
	You get a letter in the mail. ~~“You~~ have won a car!" In order to secure your prize, all you have to do is send a fee to claim the prize. The organizers sound legitimate, a hospital foundation, but you’ve never heard of them. You pay the fee. But you never hear from them again.		You get a letter in the mail. "You have won a car!" In order to secure your prize, all you have to do is send a fee to claim the prize. The organizers sound legitimate, a hospital foundation, but you’ve never heard of them. You pay the fee. But you never hear from them again.

	This is a '''fake lottery scam'''.		This is a '''fake lottery scam'''.
Line 23:		Line 14:
	As well, you cannot win money or a prize in a lottery unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf. You cannot be chosen as a random winner if you haven’t entered the lottery.		As well, you cannot win money or a prize in a lottery unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf. You cannot be chosen as a random winner if you haven’t entered the lottery.

	==~~Scam 12.~~ Text message trivia scams==		==Text message trivia scams==

	{{PLSStorybox		{{PLSStorybox
	\| image = [[File:Headshot_-_Scams_to_Avoid_-_Bruce_-_2017.jpg\|link=]]		\| image = [[File:Headshot_-_Scams_to_Avoid_-_Bruce_-_2017.jpg\|link=]]
	\| text = “I got a text recently: ~~‘Tell~~ us who won the Stanley Cup in 1915 — and you could win BIG!!’ I thought, ‘I know the answer! ~~It’s~~ the Vancouver Millionaires, the only time a Vancouver team has won.’ So I texted back. They kept sending hockey questions. I ~~couldn’t~~ resist answering. When I got my next bill, I had $150 in unexpected texting charges.”<br>- Bruce, North Vancouver		\| text = "I got a text recently: 'Tell us who won the Stanley Cup in 1915 — and you could win BIG!!' I thought, 'I know the answer! It's the Vancouver Millionaires, the only time a Vancouver team has won.' So I texted back. They kept sending hockey questions. I couldn't resist answering. When I got my next bill, I had $150 in unexpected texting charges."<br>- Bruce, North Vancouver
	}}		}}

	A text message from a number you ~~don’t~~ recognize encourages you to take part in a trivia contest for a great prize. All you need to do is text back correct answers to a few questions. The first questions are easy. You’re encouraged to keep playing. To claim your ~~“prize”~~, you’re asked a question that is virtually impossible to answer correctly.		A text message from a number you don't recognize encourages you to take part in a trivia contest for a great prize. All you need to do is text back correct answers to a few questions. The first questions are easy. You’re encouraged to keep playing. To claim your "prize", you’re asked a question that is virtually impossible to answer correctly.

	In these '''trivia scams''', the scammers make money by charging extremely high rates for the messages you send and any further messages they send to you.		In these '''trivia scams''', the scammers make money by charging extremely high rates for the messages you send and any further messages they send to you.

Elena Renderos at 03:36, 25 April 2017

2017-04-25T03:36:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:36, 25 April 2017
Line 45:		Line 45:
	===3. Protect your personal information===		===3. Protect your personal information===
	Never give your credit card number to someone who claims they will "deposit winnings" in your account.		Never give your credit card number to someone who claims they will "deposit winnings" in your account.


	{{Scams to Avoid Navbox}}		{{Scams to Avoid Navbox}}

Elena Renderos at 02:24, 24 April 2017

2017-04-24T02:24:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:24, 24 April 2017
Line 25:		Line 25:
	==Scam 12. Text message trivia scams==		==Scam 12. Text message trivia scams==
	{{PLSStorybox		{{PLSStorybox
	\| image =		\| image = [[File:Headshot_-_Scams_to_Avoid_-_Bruce_-_2017.jpg\|link=]]
	\| text = “I got a text recently: ‘Tell us who won the Stanley Cup in 1915 — and you could win BIG!!’ I thought, ‘I know the answer! It’s the Vancouver Millionaires, the only time a Vancouver team has won.’ So I texted back. They kept sending hockey questions. I couldn’t resist answering. When I got my next bill, I had $150 in unexpected texting charges.”<br>- Bruce, North Vancouver		\| text = “I got a text recently: ‘Tell us who won the Stanley Cup in 1915 — and you could win BIG!!’ I thought, ‘I know the answer! It’s the Vancouver Millionaires, the only time a Vancouver team has won.’ So I texted back. They kept sending hockey questions. I couldn’t resist answering. When I got my next bill, I had $150 in unexpected texting charges.”<br>- Bruce, North Vancouver
	}}		}}

Elena Renderos at 02:19, 24 April 2017

2017-04-24T02:19:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:19, 24 April 2017
Line 34:		Line 34:

	==Preventing problems==		==Preventing problems==
			[[File:Scams_to_Avoid_-_Contents3.png\|thumb\|275px\|right\| link=\| <span style="font-size:50%;">Image via www.istockphoto.com</span>]]
	Here are ways to reduce the risk of being the victim of a prize or contest scam.		Here are ways to reduce the risk of being the victim of a prize or contest scam.

Elena Renderos at 01:17, 24 April 2017

2017-04-24T01:17:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:17, 24 April 2017
Line 10:		Line 10:
	\| smalltext =		\| smalltext =
	}}		}}
	~~==Prize and contest~~ scams==		“Congratulations! You have just won a free holiday in sunny Mexico!” Tempting, no doubt. But all too often, offers of a “free” prize turn out to be scams.

	You ~~are told that you "have won first prize" or that you "~~have won ~~first place in~~ a ~~contest.~~" ~~The scammer will tell you that you've won something substantial (such as a large sum of money or a great~~ prize~~) and that~~ all you have to do is send ~~them money~~ to ~~<span class="noglossary">~~claim~~</span>~~ the prize. ~~Or they may not even tell~~ you ~~what the prize is~~.		==Scam 11. Fake lottery scams==
			You get a letter in the mail. “You have won a car!" In order to secure your prize, all you have to do is send a fee to claim the prize. The organizers sound legitimate, a hospital foundation, but you’ve never heard of them. You pay the fee. But you never hear from them again.

	~~Scammers use~~ a range of ways to reach you. For example, a text message tells you that you could win a great prize by participating in a trivia competition by texting. The first message may even contain a very easy question to tempt you.		This is a '''fake lottery scam'''.

	~~Some scammers use names that resemble official organizations or send an envelope announcing~~, ~~"It's Your Lucky Day~~,~~" or "You Have Won." Or they enclose~~ what ~~looks like a government cheque~~.		Often, there is no prize at all. Even if you do receive a prize, it may not be what was promised to you.

	~~===Facts===~~		In fact, legitimate lotteries do not require you to pay a fee or tax to collect winnings.

	*If you ~~have to pay to receive your "~~prize~~," you haven’t won anything.~~		As well, you cannot win money or a prize in a lottery unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf. You cannot be chosen as a random winner if you haven’t entered the lottery.
	*If you have ~~to purchase products~~, ~~provide a credit card~~ or ~~other <span class="noglossary">account</span> numbers, or send a fee in <span class="noglossary">order</span> to receive~~ your ~~prize, it is not~~ a ~~prize~~.

	==~~=Ways these~~ scams ~~try to get your money~~===		==Scam 12. Text message trivia scams==
	*You have to provide your credit card number to cover the ~~shipping~~ and ~~handling fee, lawyer fees etc. or "taxes" to process your winnings. This may be for just a small amount — about $3 or $4. They want~~ you ~~to think~~, ~~"It isn't much money, so why not risk it?"~~		{{PLSStorybox
	*In a texting competition or a texting trivial scam, the ~~scammers make money by charging extremely high rates for the messages you send and any further messages they send to you.~~		\| image =
	*You have to call a ~~"900" phone number to find out what you have "~~won.~~" If you call a 900 number you are paying for the call~~.		\| text = “I got a text recently: ‘Tell us who won the Stanley Cup in 1915 — and you could win BIG!!’ I thought, ‘I know the answer! It’s the Vancouver Millionaires, the only time a Vancouver team has won.’ So I texted back. They kept sending hockey questions. I couldn’t resist answering. When I got my next bill, I had $150 in unexpected texting charges.”<br>- Bruce, North Vancouver
	*You have to make "a small purchase" (typically a few dollars' worth of small items such as pens, ~~key chains, or light bulbs) to get the prize~~.		}}
	*You have to provide your credit card number or chequing <~~span class="noglossary"~~>~~account</span> number for "verification" purposes. As soon as someone has your credit card number they can use it; they do not need to have your signature.~~
	*You have to send a certified cheque.
	*You are pressured to buy "on the spot" because the prize is available for a "limited time only."

	~~===What~~ you ~~can~~ do~~===~~		A text message from a number you don’t recognize encourages you to take part in a trivia contest for a great prize. All you need to do is text back correct answers to a few questions. The first questions are easy. You’re encouraged to keep playing. To claim your “prize”, you’re asked a question that is virtually impossible to answer correctly.
	~~[[File:Creditcard.jpg\| right \| frame \| link=\| <span style="font-size:60%;">Copyright www~~.~~shutterstock~~.~~com</span>]]~~
	*Don't pay to ~~win or enter~~. ~~Buying goods or services won't increase~~ your ~~chances of winning.~~
	*Don't call a ~~900 number.~~
	*Never give your credit card number to ~~someone who claims they <span class="noglossary">will</span> "deposit winnings" in your <span class="noglossary">account</span>.~~
	*Be wary about responding to text messages or missed calls that come from numbers you don't recognise.

	~~==Door-~~to~~-door scams==~~		In these '''trivia scams''', the scammers make money by charging extremely high rates for the messages you send and any further messages they send to you.

	~~While legitimate businesses sell things through door-~~to~~-door marketing, scammers also use this approach. The scammers typically employ high pressure sales tactics to get you to agree to contract services such as roofing, paving~~ or ~~heating~~.		==Preventing problems==
			Here are ways to reduce the risk of being the victim of a prize or contest scam.

	~~The work <span class~~=~~"noglossary">will</span> be substandard, the <span class~~=~~"noglossary">bill</span> <span class~~=~~"noglossary">will</span> include items you did not agree to, their "money-back guarantee" <span class~~=~~"noglossary">will</span> be worthless, and there <span class~~=~~"noglossary">will</span> be no way to <span class~~=~~"noglossary">contact</span> them later~~. ~~Sometimes scammers pretend to conduct a survey so they can get your personal details~~ or ~~to disguise their sales pitch until they~~ have ~~been talking to you for a while~~.		===1. Examine any offer carefully===
			Read the terms and conditions of any offer very carefully. Claims of “free” or very cheap offers often have hidden costs.

	===~~What you can do~~===		===2. Don’t pay to participate ===
	~~Door-~~to~~-door scammers <span class="noglossary">will</span> not give you value for~~ your ~~money. If you are interested in a door-to-door sale, get the name and location~~ of ~~the company~~. ~~Check them out~~ with ~~the Better Business Bureau. See the [[Sources of Help for Consumers]] section for <span class="noglossary">contact</span> details. Insist on a written contract and take the time to check it out. If~~ you are ~~feeling pressured, do not sign anything. Close~~ the ~~door~~.		Don't pay to enter a contest. Buying things won't increase your chances of winning. Don't call or text phone numbers beginning with 1-900 unless you are aware of the costs involved.

	~~Under BC law, if you sign a door-~~to~~-door sales contract, you have 10 days to cancel by advising the company~~.		===3. Protect your personal information===
			Never give your credit card number to someone who claims they will "deposit winnings" in your account.

	~~Report suspicious door-to-door sales to Consumer Protection BC at 1-888-564-9963 or [http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca www.consumerprotectionbc.ca].~~

	~~==Relative scams==~~

	This phone scam targets grandparents or other senior relatives. Posing as a young family member in distress, the scammer claims to have been in a car accident, or to need bail money right away. Usually the scammer asks you to wire several thousand dollars. A caller might say, "Grandma, do you know who this is?" Sometimes scammers have researched Facebook profiles for details about family members.

	~~===What you can do===~~

	Seniors should always check the story with other family members before they take any action. Report suspected scammers to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or [http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca].

	{{Scams to Avoid Navbox}}		{{Scams to Avoid Navbox}}

Drew Jackson at 20:55, 20 April 2017

2017-04-20T20:55:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:55, 20 April 2017
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Law-Related ESL Badge		{{Law-Related ESL Badge
	\|lessonname= Scams to Avoid Lesson Module}}{{Scams to Avoid TOC}}		\|lessonname= Scams to Avoid Lesson Module}}{{REVIEWEDPLS \| reviewer = [[People's Law School]]\|date= March 2017}}{{Scams to Avoid TOC}}
			{{ambox
			\| type = content
			\| small = center
			\| image =
			\| smallimage =
			\| textstyle =
			\| text = This page is in the process of being updated. Please check back shortly.<br>
			\| smalltext =
			}}
	==Prize and contest scams==		==Prize and contest scams==

Line 51:		Line 59:

	Seniors should always check the story with other family members before they take any action. Report suspected scammers to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or [http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca].		Seniors should always check the story with other family members before they take any action. Report suspected scammers to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or [http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca].

	~~{{REVIEWED \| reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}}~~

	{{Scams to Avoid Navbox}}		{{Scams to Avoid Navbox}}
Line 60:		Line 66:
	\|author =		\|author =
	}}		}}
			__NOGLOSSARY__

Drew Jackson at 18:31, 20 April 2017

2017-04-20T18:31:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:31, 20 April 2017
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Law-Related ESL Badge		{{Law-Related ESL Badge
	\|lessonname= Scams to Avoid Lesson Module}}{{~~Consumer Law Wikibook~~ TOC}}		\|lessonname= Scams to Avoid Lesson Module}}{{Scams to Avoid TOC}}

	==Prize and contest scams==		==Prize and contest scams==
Line 54:		Line 54:
	{{REVIEWED \| reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}}		{{REVIEWED \| reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}}

	{{~~Consumer Law Wikibook~~ Navbox}}		{{Scams to Avoid Navbox}}

	{{Creative Commons for PLS		{{Creative Commons for PLS
	\|title = ~~Consumer Law Wikibook~~		\|title = Scams to Avoid
	\|author =		\|author =
	}}		}}

Drew Jackson: Drew Jackson moved page Prize, Sales and Relative Scams to Prize and Contest Scams: align with updated booklet

2017-04-20T18:30:47Z

Drew Jackson moved page Prize, Sales and Relative Scams to Prize and Contest Scams: align with updated booklet

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:30, 20 April 2017
(No difference)

Nate Russell at 20:57, 28 April 2015

2015-04-28T20:57:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:57, 28 April 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{Consumer Law Wikibook TOC}}~~
	{{Law-Related ESL Badge		{{Law-Related ESL Badge
	\|lessonname= Scams to Avoid Lesson Module}}		\|lessonname= Scams to Avoid Lesson Module}}{{Consumer Law Wikibook TOC}}

	==Prize and contest scams==		==Prize and contest scams==