Recognizing Scams: Free Site Shopping

Cost is an unfortunate concept — and one you strive to avoid. Dollars are too precious to waste: they must instead be hoarded, protected within your bank account and its promise of steady interest. Value is craved, and you’re certain there is no greater chance of finding it than online: where free items wait for your approval.

That approval can fade in the wake of false advertising, however.

It’s an all too common — and all too frustrating — truth that scams exist online. Companies offer tempting items… and then demand more than you want to give in return. Recognizing these attempts is essential for modern users (like yourself): ensuring that no money, time or sanity is wasted.

Free gift scams dominate the industry by an estimated 60 percent. Noting the signs of such confidence tricks is therefore necessary. The most common concerns are: sites lacking credible contact information or testimonials,  entries demanding purchases or personal information and luxury items offered from non-manufacturer sources. These represent the majority of schemes.

Ignoring these signs therefore is a mistake — and potentially a costly one. The notion of free goods may tempt you to sign up for unwanted services, reveal your credit card numbers or worse. Countless sites try to force themselves on unsuspecting users; and refusing to admit the possibility of this will only cause complications.

The quest for free items is a worthy one: you deserve the chance to earn rewards. Denying the potential dangers, however, is an action with all too unfortunate results — and these must be avoided.

 

Is This Contest a Scam?

Many a writer dreams of the acclaim – and money – that comes with publication. Entering a contest can be the shortest route to getting there but as with all types of competition, especially those that require an entry fee, it is important to read the fine print. Here are few questions to ask when determining if a contest is a scam.

Is the Company Legit?

It’s important to verify that the organization running the contest is on the up-and-up. If you can’t find enough information on the company running the contest to establish its legitimacy, don’t enter the contest.

What, if any, is the Entry Fee?

If the contest is free, go ahead and enter it. You can’t lose anything by trying. However, if there is a cost associated with the program, make sure it is appropriate. The only competition that don’t charge fees that you should be wary of are typically poetry contests. Some of these are run by vanity anthologies, poetry companies that charge the contestants a fee to purchase the book in which they are published. Contest sometimes use fees to cover expenses associated with the contest. For many smaller contests, fees typically range from $5 to $20. Some contests, like screenwriting, or those larger in size can require hire fees but you still should check those out.

Are There More Fees Once You Do or Don’t Win?

Some scams are run by companies that provide additional services, especially if you win. These may include tickets to an awards banquet or critiques of your work. Literary agencies running contests may also offer agency services at a cost to the contestant.

How Frequent is the Contest and How Many Categories Are There?

When organizations run contests every few months, it is possible that the competition is just a ploy to make money. Another scam is when a contest has a plethora of unrelated categories designed to cast a wider net when trolling for entrants.