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Email/Pop up offering Free wii/laptop/ipod? BE WARNED.
Basil_Faulty_2-2
Posts: 7 Forumite
Everyday My inbox is inundated with spam emails advising me I can have a free laptop/wii/ipod ect. Occasionally whilst surfing a pop-up box will invite me to “get a free high value item”
I have learned to ignore these as I know of a few people who have been stung. (One just yesterday) Be aware that nothing is ever “simple” as just clicking a few buttons to get something as good as a wii– you have to read the small print and know what you are doing. In your haste to get your free laptop/ipod ect it is easy to tick the box that indicates you have read terms and conditions – and that’s what will end up leaving you out of pocket.
There are many offers to hook you in such as subscription services such as DVD/Music clubs or magazine subscriptions and financial services such as credit cards or loan or obtaining quotes to buy insurance.
However, to qualify you have to sign up to at least three/four deals. Those initial offers you complete are just the tip of the iceberg, you will normally also have to recommend a number of friends who will also have to sign up for several or sometimes the same offers. If you don’t meet very strict criteria you won’t get the freebie.
As I stated before the rush of getting such a high value freebie means you end up ignoring the “small” print. A few weeks later – you have no laptop – and you are several pounds out of pocket, having signed up to services you don’t want and just try getting a refund. In some cases the companies are within their rights to refuse a refund and trading standards state that legally companies reserve the right to recoup cost of acquisitions.
These “freebie” companies make their money from being “affiliates” this means they are paid for referrals and practically anyone can set up a website and make money by referring customers to companies. Most companies pay affiliates anything up to £50 for a referral. You can see why they are so willing to hook you in with grand offers, and even if you don’t get your item, they will still be paid for acting as an “introducer”
In your mind, you think you have been conned – in the mind of the company you have signed up to you haven’t – they have paid good money for your details and there you are wanting your cash back!
Once you click on a link that takes you to one of the offers you have to sign up to it’s your responsibility to read and understand what you are getting into.
Most people think they are “net intelligent” and sign up for these offers just to get the freebie with the intention of cancelling any subscriptions before the fist payment becomes due. But, did you remember everything you have signed up for? Did you meet the sign up criteria of each of the companies you have now given your bank details to? Have you remembered when you need to cancel before charges are applied?
My advice – if you want a laptop/wii/ipod so badly – look online for a good deal and buy online. If you insist on going for these offers, ensure 1) You fully understand the criteria you will have to meet to get your freebie 2) You know the details of the company that have offered you the freebie in the first place so you can chase them down 3) You keep a record of every single company you sign up for and the dates payments will be taken 4) You read the terms and conditions of every single company you sign up for. 5) You understand what each company does and what their rules are.
If all that seems like hard work, it’s because it is.
Freebie hunters, you have been warned!
I have learned to ignore these as I know of a few people who have been stung. (One just yesterday) Be aware that nothing is ever “simple” as just clicking a few buttons to get something as good as a wii– you have to read the small print and know what you are doing. In your haste to get your free laptop/ipod ect it is easy to tick the box that indicates you have read terms and conditions – and that’s what will end up leaving you out of pocket.
There are many offers to hook you in such as subscription services such as DVD/Music clubs or magazine subscriptions and financial services such as credit cards or loan or obtaining quotes to buy insurance.
However, to qualify you have to sign up to at least three/four deals. Those initial offers you complete are just the tip of the iceberg, you will normally also have to recommend a number of friends who will also have to sign up for several or sometimes the same offers. If you don’t meet very strict criteria you won’t get the freebie.
As I stated before the rush of getting such a high value freebie means you end up ignoring the “small” print. A few weeks later – you have no laptop – and you are several pounds out of pocket, having signed up to services you don’t want and just try getting a refund. In some cases the companies are within their rights to refuse a refund and trading standards state that legally companies reserve the right to recoup cost of acquisitions.
These “freebie” companies make their money from being “affiliates” this means they are paid for referrals and practically anyone can set up a website and make money by referring customers to companies. Most companies pay affiliates anything up to £50 for a referral. You can see why they are so willing to hook you in with grand offers, and even if you don’t get your item, they will still be paid for acting as an “introducer”
In your mind, you think you have been conned – in the mind of the company you have signed up to you haven’t – they have paid good money for your details and there you are wanting your cash back!
Once you click on a link that takes you to one of the offers you have to sign up to it’s your responsibility to read and understand what you are getting into.
Most people think they are “net intelligent” and sign up for these offers just to get the freebie with the intention of cancelling any subscriptions before the fist payment becomes due. But, did you remember everything you have signed up for? Did you meet the sign up criteria of each of the companies you have now given your bank details to? Have you remembered when you need to cancel before charges are applied?
My advice – if you want a laptop/wii/ipod so badly – look online for a good deal and buy online. If you insist on going for these offers, ensure 1) You fully understand the criteria you will have to meet to get your freebie 2) You know the details of the company that have offered you the freebie in the first place so you can chase them down 3) You keep a record of every single company you sign up for and the dates payments will be taken 4) You read the terms and conditions of every single company you sign up for. 5) You understand what each company does and what their rules are.
If all that seems like hard work, it’s because it is.
Freebie hunters, you have been warned!
0
Comments
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From the MSE site rules:
"Pyramid schemes, lottery based pyramid schemes, Ipod bidding schemes etc
The legality of these schemes is questionable, yet the ethics isn't. These schemes fly in the face of MoneySaving and whether illegal or not I don't want them on the site. Any scheme which offers a prize/reward/cash for you queuing up and referring other people is not permitted on this site and will be deleted. Repeated posters will have their posting priviledges removed."
The spammers that try posting their links for these sites don't last long on this forum...
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mountainchrisriver wrote: »From the MSE site rules:
"Pyramid schemes, lottery based pyramid schemes, Ipod bidding schemes etc
The legality of these schemes is questionable, yet the ethics isn't. These schemes fly in the face of MoneySaving and whether illegal or not I don't want them on the site. Any scheme which offers a prize/reward/cash for you queuing up and referring other people is not permitted on this site and will be deleted. Repeated posters will have their posting priviledges removed."
The spammers that try posting their links for these sites don't last long on this forum...
And a good thing too, however, many MSE readers will encounter these offers outside of this board, hence, my warning which advises people to steer clear.0 -
Just as well you warned me, I was about to sign up to 5 of these - they all looked so real and honest.0
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Blacksheep1979 wrote: »Just as well you warned me, I was about to sign up to 5 of these - they all looked so real and honest.
Does this mean the email I got from Crown Prince Umbongo offering me a share of $10million just to get it out of the country was bogus too?"Love you Dave Brooker! x"
"i sent a letter headded sales of god act 1979"0 -
I think it is safe to assume that it is a fake.Anyway, I don't think anyone should open or respond to obvious spam e-mails. If no-one opened spam e-mails maybe a lot of spam might stop.:DBrooker_Dave wrote: »Does this mean the email I got from Crown Prince Umbongo offering me a share of $10million just to get it out of the country was bogus too?Like good food and drink?
Try Hotel Chocolat and Baileys.
:drool: :drool:
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Really helpful post. I had an email from a mate that he had forwarded from a company called freepay apparently I had "won" a £250 Asda voucher, but to get the voucher I would have to sign up for loads of offers. (Just as he had)
I have emailed him this posting as he claims that its all legit! Have told him its a scam but he's convinced a £250 Asda voucher is on its way to him!
Cheers for the post Basil, very useful and a great name too.
Ignore the sarcastic :mad: :eek: :cool: :mad: 's who have posted "humourous" responses, they are what we call Internet Trolls.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll0
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