Difference between revisions of "Prize and Contest Scams"
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{{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}} | ||
"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. | |||
== | ==Fake lottery scams== | ||
You get a letter in the mail. | 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'''. | ||
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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. | ||
== | ==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 = | | 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 | 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. | ||