Share This PageHow to protect yourself from spending on sweepstakes
By Robert Ballantyne
Friday, February 13, 2009, 12:39 PM
While the Reader's Digest sweepstakes is a real contest that
does award prizes, there are also many other sweepstakes offers out
there, and there are things you can do to protect yourself and your
family from spending money on sweepstakes:
• If you get sweepstakes offers in the mail, read all the details in the promotional material very carefully.
• Don't assume that you have already won something even if the marketing makes it seem like you have.
• The sweepstakes offer may also include offers for merchandise, which you may not need to buy in order to have a chance to win.
• Some vulnerable consumers may be buying merchandise in the hopes of winning - look out for your family and friends - some warning signs can include unusual packages of items that the buyer may not want, or cannot use, and may have never opened.
• If you get sweepstakes offers in the mail, read all the details in the promotional material very carefully.
• Don't assume that you have already won something even if the marketing makes it seem like you have.
• The sweepstakes offer may also include offers for merchandise, which you may not need to buy in order to have a chance to win.
• Some vulnerable consumers may be buying merchandise in the hopes of winning - look out for your family and friends - some warning signs can include unusual packages of items that the buyer may not want, or cannot use, and may have never opened.
