ON GUARD - Fraud Spotter 25 - Contests

ON GUARD û Fraud Spotter 25 Evaluating Contests
By Laura Quarantiello
® 2004 Tiare Publications Group
191 words

We can never be completely certain that the contest we decide to
enter is isn't a scam, but we can be sure that we've done our
homework before we seal pop the envelope into the mail. Evaluate any
contest promotion you receive by asking yourself these questions
(adapted from the Direct Marketing Association):

1) Are the rules and entry instructions easy to find and understand?
2) Does the ad clearly state that no purchase is necessary in order
to win?
3) Are the prizes valuable and worth winning?
4) Is the grand prize awarded to one winner, or is it shared among
several winners?
5) How good are the chances of winning a major prize?
6) What is the postmark on the envelope the promotion came in? If
the envelope says
you are a winner, but the postmark is a bulk mail number, think
twice.
7) Are you familiar with the company name or is it something you've
never heard of
before?


Contest can be fun but they can also be a gimmick used by an
unscrupulous company as a means to get your money, leaving you with
nothing in return.

(End)

Laura Quarantiello hates criminals and the crimes they commit. Her
book "On Guard" can help you minimize the risk you family faces from
criminal elements. Get more information at:
www.tiare.com/onguard.htm