How to Avoid Competition Scams Like a Pro
Online competitions are fun, and they should be! However, they aren’t fun when someone steals your identity or your life savings vanish into thin air.
Fraudsters and phishers often use online competitions as a tool to trick people into giving out their personal information. These con artists are pretty skilled at what they do, which is why we're here to provide some simple tips to help you avoid getting swindled by an online competition scammer.
Do not accept unusual friend requests or messages from pages claiming that you have won.
Participants have been known to receive messages from fake profiles claiming they have won the competition, but the participant must click on a link to claim their prize. The link then directs them to a bogus website where the ‘winner’ must enter personal or financial details. The scammer will ultimately use this information to steal your identity or money.
With that being said, always pay attention to usernames. Scammers, particularly on Facebook and Instagram, often have a username or page name that looks identical to the real account but has minor spelling errors or added characters. The fake accounts will use the same profile photo as the real account for an extra layer of deception. At a glance, the fake account may look legitimate!
For instance, let’s say there’s a legitimate online competition being run by an account called “TheGreatestGuitarist”. Here are some examples of how fraudsters would subtly alter their username:
TheGreatestGutarist
The.GreatestGuitarist
TheGreatestGuitarist_
Beware of phony (scam) links.
As stated previously, a fraudulent link may take you to a fake website that requests personal information from you. This is why you should only click on links from sources you trust. If you must visit a website, be sure to carefully check the spelling of the web address. Scammers like to change up a URL slug ever-so-slightly (just like those pesky usernames), so at first glimpse, you may think you’re in the clear.
Never send money to claim your prize.
Real online competitions with genuine prizes won’t ask for your cash in exchange for your prize. It’s as simple as that.
Get in contact with the official company.
Verify if the competition or prize is authentic by getting in contact with the company that is hosting the competition. You can do this by using their official contact details, which may be listed in the fine print or on the support page of their website. Their support team should be more than happy to help answer any of your questions.
If the online competition doesn’t have official contact details, Rules, or Terms, it’s probably not so official after all. Stay safe out there, and happy competing!
