uRGENT -MAYBE SCAMMED.

tirlittan

Please help urgently. Won a competition. But you had to pay a deposit. Stupidly did this yesterday with my credit card. Could I cancel it so they can't take money from my credit card or am I stuck with the charge now?

milliemonster

I would imagine the money has already been taken now, you can possibly try to claim it back from your credit card but I think this only applies to transactions over £100?

magictom123

well I hope your kicking yourself, what kind of competition asks the winner to pay a deposit - maybe a scam one?

I know that doesnt help you but maybe other people can read this and not act as rashly.

I'm sorry for you that you've been stung.

oldagetraveller

Further to previous - what kind of competition? Did you enter the competition or just receive a random notification by post , 'phone or e-mail?
If it was a "competition" you've not entered and have now given your card details etc. to someone then I'd be a bit concerned about more money being taken. Even if you did enter the competition then I'd still be concerned about someone asking for a "deposit" (administration) before sending the winnings.
A fairly common scam unfortunately, I've won lots of them if some e-mails are to be believed.

sarahlouise210

i would reduce your credit limit NOW! I was scammed for over £4000 (though did not willingly give my details!!)

tirlittan

Ok. So maybe not exactly scammed -yet anyway. Full story as follows:

I got a call from exposurephotographics yesterday saying I'd won a photoshoot. Entered this competition on Pigsback. The woman on the phone went on about it for ages. Then said I needed to pay deposit. I knew I shouldn't've done it, but I did pay it for me and another guest. So know I guess have to just make sure I'll go and make most of the day out. Or can I cancel the deposit by calling my credit card and not let them take it out??? I mean will I get my deposit back when I go there as promised? I'm supposed to get one photo for free. I'm not buying other ones. I know I can play the game and not get sucked into buying the photos however good they look, but I do want my deposit back. Should've known not to do it, but sometimes you just want a treat. So could I cancel all this money going out of my credit card or do I have to go and brave it out and hope I get my deposit back??? Please advice.

poker_face

tirlittan wrote: »

Please help urgently. Won a competition. But you had to pay a deposit. Stupidly did this yesterday with my credit card. Could I cancel it so they can't take money from my credit card or am I stuck with the charge now?

Unlucky. 99% of the time, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. At least you wont make the same mistake again

tirlittan

And oldagetraveller : I am kicking myself. Usually, if anyone asks money, my immediate reaction is no thanks - even if it's just £5 to get £200. But sometimes, like now, I think, ok I need to pay this to get that, but then I'm getting my money back and don't actually have to pay anything. So not worth it.

tirlittan

I'm just getting cold feet now in case I don't get my deposit back.

And thanks guys for quick replies. Appreciated.

oldagetraveller

How much was the "deposit", you say "all this money"?
You've probably paid for a passport size picture which is possibly all you'll get if you reject the hard sell after the photoshoot and the pictures they offer at the end will be at an overinflated price. If you search this forum there are lots of people who've fallen for this.
Your deposit is also probably non refundable!

milliemonster

What did you have to pay a 'deposit' for anyway?