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Hoping to Win the Sweepstakes?
Be aware that every time you fill out a form to enter a sweepstakes, you are potentially providing information which can and is sold to thieves. Many are not aware that sweepstakes entrants often are asked to fill out forms stating their buying habits, age, and other personal information. The sweepstakes itself could be a fake. The tactic of using sweepstakes entry forms to collect lists of names for scam artists is common. Some of the entry forms are intended solely to create databases of information on millions of elderly Americans. Databases can be profitably sold.
InfoUSA, one of the nation’s largest list brokers and a publicly held company, matches buyers and sellers of data. The company maintains records on 210 million Americans, according to its website. According to an article published in the New York Times, InfoUSA collected more than $430 million from clients like Reader’s Digest, and other publishers. Unfortunately, InfoUSA has also helped sell lists to companies that had been prosecuted for fraud, or were under investigation for crimes in telemarketing.
It may seem like innocent fun to enter the sweepstakes. After all, people win, don’t they? Beware that all sweepstakes are not legitimate, and the scam artists can get your information and call you at home, hoping to trick you into giving out your financial information. If you know folks who love to play the sweepstakes, warn them! This could be a way for thieves to gain access to their information, or even their bank accounts.
By Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, R. N., Attorney at Law
Marin Financial Abuse Expert Team member
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