Each year the Better Business Bureau is flooded with inquiries about thousands of sweepstakes and promotions that are being received in the mail. While many of these promotions are from legitimate reputable companies, a large number are from operators that defraud thousands of unsuspecting people. Lotteries are different than sweepstakes in that they offer prizes to members of the public by chance, but require some form of payment in order to participate.
Lotteries are illegal except when conducted by states and certain exempt charitable organizations.
While there are fees for lotteries, absolutely no purchase is necessary in order to enter or win a sweepstakes. When there is no actual sweepstakes drawing or prizes, consumers lose all the money they send. To add insult to injury, if the product is received, it is usually of poor quality. Being aware of what to look for in authentic written sweepstakes promotions will help you avoid being caught by a fraudulent operation. The number, retail value, and complete description of all prizes offered, The approximate odds of winning a prize.