Oct 11 ā¢ Prevention Tips & Education
š Donāt Take the Bait: How to Spot Prize, Sweepstakes & āFree Giftā Scams
It's that time of year again, holiday season is upon us and we all love good news, but if you ever get a message saying "You have won!"- PAUSE before you celebrate š
Prize and sweepstakes scams are some of the most reported frauds in North America. Theyāre designed to trigger excitement and urgency so youāll act fastā¦ before realizing itās fake.
š© Red Flags to Watch For
1ļøā£ You didnāt actually enter. If you canāt remember signing up, thatās the first clue. Real contests require you to enter first.
2ļøā£ They ask for money or āprocessing fees.ā Legitimate prizes never require payment, shipping costs, or taxes up front.
3ļøā£ They pressure you to act immediately. āClaim your prize in 10 minutes!ā is a classic manipulation tactic. Real organizations donāt rush winners.
4ļøā£ They ask for personal info or banking details. Never share your SIN, banking info, or credit card to āverifyā your win.
5ļøā£ The message looks unofficial. Misspelled words, random email addresses, or social media accounts that look new are all giveaways.
š§ How to Protect Yourself
- Pause before you press.
- Verify the source. Look up the official company website or call their published customer service number.
- Never click suspicious links. If you really did win, the company will contact you through verified channels.
- Talk it out. When in doubt, share it here in the community ā someone may have seen the same scam.
š¬ Lets have a Discussion
Have you ever been contacted about a āprizeā that turned out to be fake? How did you figure out it was a scam ā or what do you look for now before you celebrate?
Letās share our experiences and make sure none of us fall for the glittering bait again. šš”ļø
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š Donāt Take the Bait: How to Spot Prize, Sweepstakes & āFree Giftā Scams
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