Prizes include vacations, precious gems or luxury cars. In order to be eligible to claim the prize, businesses are asked to purchase several hundred dollars in advertising specialty products, such as pens, mugs, key chains, hats or other promotional items with the company's name on them. After agreeing to pay for a COD package containing a few dollars worth of junk, the prize arrives. Its value never exceeds the money paid. One scam that has been around for years involves an offer for a boat.
Some prize offers look like official gift certificates, bordered in gold.
Others look like important official correspondence complete with validation number, or like a telegram or something important in an express delivery mail pouch. No matter how they're packaged and how official they look, if you have to pay to win or receive a free gift, it's probably not worth the money. Protect Your Business Law enforcement action against these firms is very difficult. Experience shows these companies rarely answer or adjust complaints and are hard to find once problems are reported. Check them out before agreeing to become part of their advertising promotional campaign.