Press Release Author: Craig McDaniel, President / Sweepstakes Today LLC
Industry: Internet & Online
Press Release Summary: This story is about legitimate sweepstakes, contest and scam email offers. The story offers basic ideas on personal security and what are good quality sweepstakes to enter.
Press Release Body: Tulsa, OK, October 20, 2007 - In the world of online sweepstakes, there are hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and prizes to be won. Many come from the likes of companies such as, Dell Computers, General Motors, Kraft and nearly all of the Fortune 1,000 companies you most likely buy products from daily. Over the past three years these legitimate companies have accounted for over $160,000,000 dollars in prizes from over 14,000 sweepstakes, contest and giveaways.
However there is also a dark side that includes scams, fraud, phishers, etc. who do not have your best interest at heart. While the cons and cheats are very small, they do exist. We at Sweepstakes Today http://www.sweepstakestoday.com like to keep our members and the public at large aware, informed and educated. Like anything online, this is a sliding landscape.
Let's face it, you hear the word sweepstakes (especially online) and you think scam, fraud, phishers, etc.most likely nothing positive comes to mind. When you hear the word "free" online you probably share a similar sentiment. Now throw "Free Sweepstakes" together and whammo there's no way in hell it is legit. Well think again dear Netizens, there are a few good guys out there. The tough part is telling the good from the bad; the legit from the fraudulent.
Well now it's a little easier. Today SweepstakesToday.com released its Tips & Tricks to Identifying, Trusting, Engaging and Winning online Sweepstakes. Craig McDaniel, founder of the company, is one of the leading experts on online sweepstakes and security. He recommends some of the following points:
. Don't let your emotions get the best of you. Everyone wants to win; don't let it get to your head.
. First rule of sweepstakes. Stick with only name brand company sweeps. Never enter a sweep offered by an unknown name company. Second, stick with only US or Canadian based companies governed under US law and administrated by reputable firm.
. Never pay fees. No legitimate company will ever make you pay a fee to win a prize. Don't do it. Fees can also include handling charges, service fees.etc. Watch out for emails and correspondence that asks you to wire money. This is one of the newer forms of fraud that has gotten so many victims. Never respond to an online lottery especially any that come from a foreign country. There have been at least 30 different variations of them and mostly from Europe. None are legit. Keep in mind, no reputable company would do this.
. Legitimate sweepstakes do ask for basic telephone information like name, address and telephone number. This is information that can be found already from many public sources. Usually they ask for a telephone number only in case that you win a big prize.
. Never give any personal financial information like your social security number, bank info or a credit card. Legitimate sweepstakes NEVER ask for this kind of information unless you win. Then it is never emailed and only sent with a affidavit by FedEx or UPS.
. Time. Most sweepstakes are organized to give potential applicants a fair amount of time to participate. Those who seem urgent or have lingo to "Act now" are most likely to be fraudulent. Be on the lookout for this and read the fine print. In some cases you may be time pressed. For instance, you may be winning event tickets, a trip or tickets for a concert.
. Question all winning prizes notifications emails addresses that originate from the domains from the free email services of: Hotmail.com, Yahoo.com, Gmail.com, Aim.com and others. No legitimate company sending out winning email notices will use free service email. They use their own domain name based email server.
. Last, Sweeping as it is call is fun hobby. It is safe, you don't get dirty, and most of all it is unbelievable experience to win a big Grand Prize.
At Sweepstakes Today, www.sweepstakestoday.com the members have won millions of dollars in cars, cash and great prizes. But most importantly they know and trust that the sweeps they enter are from quality companies who are offering the sweeps to promote their brands and name.
About Sweepstakes Today Sweepstakes Today is one of the largest online sweepstakes sites worldwide. It provides its members with access to the best sweepstakes, contests, promotions, and drawings offered by many large, well known, companies and corporations in the world. Membership to the site is free.
Sweepstakes Today is, headed by President, Craig McDaniel.
Web Site: http://www.sweepstakestoday.com/
Contact Details: Craig McDaniel, President of Sweepstakes Today LLC www.sweepstakestoday.com mrsweepy@sweepstakestoday.com ph: 918-610-0999