Many are victimized. Arnold often testifies before Congress on sweepstakes issues. But as many as 85 of every 100 scams go unreported because people simply don't want to admit that they've been suckered. Arnold says that elderly people fall victim to sweepstakes scams for several reasons. First, trips and cash prizes can be especially appealing to people on fixed incomes.
Many publishers use direct mail responsibly to increase circulation and obtain renewals.
But others use sweepstake mailers to dupe people into buying books, magazines, and other merchandise. They stand out. However, the qualifying data, phrases such as if you play, if you are selected, and no purchase necessary are normally printed in small type and buried deep within long, wordy messages. As a result, many people believe they can increase their chance of winning by buying a company's magazines or books. The more they buy, the better their chances, or so they believe.