"You have won either a laptop or £250 of argos vouchers!" Really?

Question

How do these things work? I never entered a competition to win anything.

Surely if they tell me i've won a prize then they are obliged to give me one.

How does it work?

Answer 1

Yes, they are, but check the small print for the catch - there will be one. It may be that the small print refers to smaller prizes and it is one of those you actually end up winning, or the cost of the telephone call to claim the prize is astronomical.

Be careful. Good luck

Answer 2

They will end up charging you more money than they'll give you.

Steer clear, if it looks too good to be true, then it is.

Answer 3

ALL these things are cons. Repeat, ALL.  If you have not entered a competition you have NOT won anything.  This sort of mailing is sometimes done by people selling overseas properties or other so called investment opportunities and to 'qualify' you have to go to a presentation day at your own expense and get 6-8 hours of hard aggressive selling spiel. Most people walk out, without anything. no one gets a laptop, any vouchers they may get are just money off ones  requiring them to spend large amounts in the first place.  Just ignore these cons.

Answer 4

Read the small print. You'll probably have to spend money or participate in offers to get your "prize" (It might say "participation required")

You never get something for nothing with things like that.

And if you never entered a competition, you can't really have won anything...

Answer 5

It could be a scam just getting you to ring the number which is something rediculous like £3 a minute.

I have no idea but nothings free in this country so theres a catch somewhere.

I would have thought you'd have to win a prize though.

Try it.

Answer 6

nope they lie

Answer 7

If it's an email, it's spam.  If it's a pop-up, it's advertising.  Either way steer clear - you never get something for nothing.

Answer 8

these sort of things have conditions attached, such as you need to sign  up to a website and buy something from one of there promoters. Or you need to refer a certain amount of people and get them to sign up. It won't be simply giving them your details and they send you your prize. They may give it to you but it will take some work and a lot of time. It isn't worth it!!

Answer 9

its a scam you will probably have to phone a premium number to check what you have won for which you will be charged sometimes up to £15 only for them to tell you that you have not won this time but do try again...

you might get some vouchers for money off stuff

but they are only copies of store promotions anyway...

Answer 10

Actually I was told today that I'd won a Ford Focus; I needed to send £9.90 processing costs. If I were to send off the £9.90 I would hear nothing more and the author of the scam will be £9.90 richer. Now do you see?

Answer 11

dont trust them. they are not your friends....