You Won!   How many times have I read that in an email!   Like a stampede, daily I received these little notices.   At first I was honored, until I realized they weren’t prizes but traps.   I had initially attempted to claim my prizes, which consisted of $500 gift cards, laptop computers, Tide samples, makeup kits, designer handbags, digital cameras, hotel stays….   The list is endless.   I even received a check in the amount of 1 million dollars!   All I had to do was respond to a few offers.   I attempted on several occasions to fill out these offers to receive my free gift(s), but every time I tired of the endless surveys and subtle manipulations to get me to make an un-needed purchase.   Occasionally I did pull out my credit card and pay for shipping of an item here and there, and I was even lured into buying a magazine subscription, or a diet pill—always giving up and never completing these offers, thus never receiving my prize.

Just like any other day, I had a sea of emails asking me to claim my prize.   But this time I was determined to walk away with something worthwhile.   I followed the link and embarked on a wild ride.   If I completed all the offers, surveys, and shipping fees, I would receive a $500 Visa gift card.   I could certainly use that gift card.

The first round of offers seemed harmless.   Most of them were free offers, only asking me to pay shipping and handling.   I selected the required 2 offers and moved on to the next step.   Step 2 offered a few magazine subscriptions and asked me if I was planning to buy a new car in the near future or if I wanted to go back to college to start a new career.   What the heck, I’d been contemplating getting a new car, so I responded to those offers, too.   At that point I had already spent about $22 in shipping and knew that I was going to get a slew of phone calls offering me rates on financing a new car.   Step 3 was more challenging.   I had more choices, but fewer free offers.   Shipping at this point was no longer the option.   I had to purchase 3 offers.   I bought a language program for $75.00, a magazine subscription, and a 30-day trial for a Pitney Bowes postage meter.

I devised a plan.   I would immediately cancel these purchases and be out no money, yet still receive my $500 gift card.   The last step had finally arrived an hour and a half later.   I patiently responded to everything, and I was almost done.   There was a flashing sign on the web page stating that I was almost done.   I was overcome with excitement.   I was actually going to receive my prize.   I got it.   I realized that these sponsors were hoping people would give up halfway through and never claim their prizes, and still make purchases during the process.   But not me, I was determined to finish.   Step 4—all I had to do was respond to 4 offers.   I scanned the page and quickly spotted the freebies:   a free trial subscription to Netflicks and a one month free supply of Relastin skin firming cream.   Just two more offers to complete.   I looked all over the page and the only offers left were Discover Card offers.   There were 4, each with different card themes, but nonetheless, the same card.   I already had a Discover credit card, but held my resolve and decided to apply for 2 more.   And that’s when I realized I would never receive my $500 gift card.   As I filled out the information for the first Discover card, I noticed in fine print that only one card application per customer was allowed—no exceptions!   There was absolutely no way I could ever win my prize.   This was a hoax, a con, a big fat lie!   I was incensed, and determined to expose these charlatans.

If I could have successfully cancelled my orders, I might have escaped this scam unscathed, but I was not so lucky, and my credit card was the unfortunate casualty.   Two months later I am still dealing with the repercussions.   I called the toll-free numbers and canceled through voice mail, I sent emails asking them not to ship the order(s), and when they still came to my home, I marked them “return to sender.”   But my bank statement and credit card bills told a different story.   These people charged me anyway, ignoring my requests for cancellation.   I have spent hours trying to remove charges, never receiving satisfaction.   I was stuck with more than a few unwanted bills.

What did I win?   Not the $500 gift card, not even the supposed free stuff for which I paid shipping.   I have constantly to scrutinize my billing statements and guard against the continuous charges that appear every month.   I guess nothing is for free.

The next time you receive one of those emails claiming you won, spam it and never look back.   And if you really just want to spend your money, get in your car and drive to the nearest mall.   It’s a lot more exciting and takes a lot less of your time.   But ultimately you choose your purchase.   It doesn’t choose you.

If you think you’re being scammed, visit the following websites:

www.ftc.gov

www.scam.com

www.sitereviewauthority.com

www.sarahs-scams-review.com

Below are the top ten online scams targeted by law enforcers:

Internet Auction Fraud

Internet Service Provider Scams

Multi-level Marketing / Pyramid Scams

Business Opportunities and Work-At-Home Scams (Beware of companies offering you a job that requires an up-front fee.)

Paid surveys

Investment Schemes and Get-Rich-Quick Scams

Travel/Vacation Fraud

Telephone / Pay-Per-Call Solicitation Frauds (including modem dialers and videotext)

Health Care Frauds

They say buyer beware for good reason.   Nothing’s free, you get what you pay for, and there’s no such thing as get rich quick!

Staff Writer