Free Gift Delivery Scam: How It Works
(with video below) You receive a voicemail or letter in the mail informing you that you’ve won a free gift for being part of some well-known association (e.g. Red Cross). The gift isn’t bad, either: it could be a couple free nights at a five star hotel in New York (Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, etc), or seats at an NBA or NHL game – something easily worth a few hundred dollars! The message tells you to call the number listed and setup a delivery time. How does the scam work?
Watch the video below to see in action the Free Gift Delivery Scam exposed:
In reality, by calling them back, you have given them permission to send a sales team to you. Once inside, they will start showing you the real face of their business which includes a series of promotions they are trying to sell.
They tell you the gift you won is free, but the only way to use it at that location (the five star hotel, the NBA or NHL game) is to show them the receipt of one of their promotions, which you buy when they come to your house. Don’t do it–you only stand to lose.
Scammers shamelessly use the brand names of the hotels and the charities to lure you in.
How to avoid:
Random free gifts don’t usually happen. If you didn’t enter a contest of some kind, be very wary of anything telling you that you’ve won big.
How to report:
Make your family and friends aware of this scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the link below:
How to protect yourself more:
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