Sometimes the scammers actually do send a check for part of your winnings. This check will eventually bounce, leaving you out the money you sent and paying any fees charged by your bank for the bad check and overdrafts.
According to the National Consumer League (NCL), lottery and sweepstakes scams rank number three on their list of tops scams in 2013.
To avoid becoming a victim of a scam, your BBB offers these tips:
• Remember, you can’t win a contest you didn’t enter.
• Avoid too-good-to-be true prizes. These schemes almost always involve a large sum of money, but there’s always a catch. Scammers make it sound easy to claim prizes. In reality, it’s very unlikely someone will give away a large sum of money with no strings attached.
• Never give out your personal information (credit card numbers, bank account information or social security numbers) to strangers.
• Avoid clicking on links in an e-mails or text messages from unfamiliar people or organizations.
• Never wire money. Or prepaid debit cards.
• Remember, prizes are free. No taxes or fees should have to be paid prior to receiving the prize.
When looking to do business, make sure it’s with BBB Accredited Businesses or Charities. Also, be sure to click the trust button on business reviews of companies you trust and work with. If you have any questions about scams, visit www.bbb.org or call (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301.
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