Sweepstakes Scams
This is a scam in which a company tells someone they have won a sweepstakes prize, but that the "winner" must first pay a fee to "insure" delivery of their prize. This is a scam that tries to convince you to give your money away. Real sweepstakes contests never charge the winner for receiving a prize.
Report this scam to:
- The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at: www.ic3.gov/
- The United States Postal Service at: www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactus/filecomplaint.aspx or by calling 1-800-275-8777.
- The Federal Trade Commission at: www.ftc.gov/complaint or by calling 1-877-382-4357.
- Your local law enforcement agency.
Warning signs of a sweepstakes scam:
- Sweepstakes scams want you to pay to receive the prize.
- Sweepstakes scams tell you that you've won a contest that you don't remember entering.
- They will send you a large check with your win notice (this is a counterfeit check).
- They will instruct you to wire money by Western Union or to purchase a money pack card. They will have you read the number on the money pack card. Having to wire money to receive a prize is a sure sign of a sweepstakes scam.
- They could pressure you to act in a hurry.
- They may ask for bank or credit card information to receive your prize.
- The "Win" is from a lottery, especially a foreign lottery.
- They could pose as government organizations.
- The sweepstakes letter contains many typos.
Remember, legitimate sweepstakes require affidavits before sending out any prize valued at more than $600. Stay safe with Commercial Bank Michigan.