Competition Scams - Please Post Them Here

now_a_mum&skint

It certainly seemed like a scam, but was unsure, thanks mpython, I also enter so many comps that this one made me question myself, why do they do this? Just to gain personal information? What do they do with it? Such a cruel scam huh?

mpython

The normal scam, is to ask you to pay an admin fee to 'release' the funds, once you've paid that, then there'll be a transfer fee, then local tax fee, etc etc. If you give them your bank account details or passport as proof of ID then they'll buy stuff in your name with your money etc etc.

sarerb18

Really very sorry if this is in the wrong place but couldn't find anywhere else.

Just had a very unpleasant experience after doing a competition for a driveclean software package. Had numerous pop up messages that would not go away telling me that I had 625 pornographic sites on my computer and could lose my job and family and be prosecuted by the police.

The only way to get rid of it was to turn off the computer and then back on again but it was still there. It took me ages of clicking the red cross boxes to get rid of it, if I have.

I have obviously done something daft but thought I would warn incase anyone else should do it. Very unpleasant!

Sarerb18

joho

Sarerb18, was the competition on here? If it was and you can find it, it might be worth addiing this warning there so that no-one else has the same problem. Hope your puter working ok now!

lydias

You should probably run Lavasoft's free program Adaware, or Spybot Search and destroy (also free) to make sure this nasty is really gone.

http://www.lavasoft.com/

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

and maybe run a full anti virus scan also.

Strepsy

Ok, I just had a problem too. I got it on the Popcorn site though I guess that may not be where the problem originates. Starting to run all my virus and spy stuff.

sarerb18

sarerb18
NotSoNewbie MoneySaver


Join Date: Dec 2006
Post Count: 27
Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts


warning for anyone using this link
Quote:
Originally Posted by sovs
www.123greetings.com
they even send on the date you want to the other persons email



I do not know if it will affect you or not but after entering a competition for driveclean I used this link and ended up with the situation below. It was only after going back to this link that I realised it may have something to do with this link.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sarerb18
Really very sorry if this is in the wrong place but couldn't find anywhere else.

Just had a very unpleasant experience after doing a competition for a driveclean software package. Had numerous pop up messages that would not go away telling me that I had 625 pornographic sites on my computer and could lose my job and family and be prosecuted by the police.

The only way to get rid of it was to turn off the computer and then back on again but it was still there. It took me ages of clicking the red cross boxes to get rid of it, if I have.

I have obviously done something daft but thought I would warn incase anyone else should do it. Very unpleasant!

Sarerb18



Hope this does not happen to anyone else.

sarerb18

Oops! That did not come out quite right sorry.

Thanks for your replies and yes I did Adaware etc. I am lucky that I have a very clued up Son. I don't know if the driveclean competition is contected but it was driveclean offering to cleanse my machine of the pornography. Should something like this be reported to the police. I can just imagine someone more vunerable than me being very distrurbed by this.
Sarerb18

Postscript. I have just gone to the web site of 123 greetings and the same thing happened again so it's not someone on here doing it but something to do with their site itself.

andistar74

I won a holiday upto the value of £3750 coincendently the same amount as the membership of clubseasons, luckily I came straight on this website to check them out and I knew exactly where to file my winning letter....

Nosskibird_2

emmilou wrote:

Just recieved a call from CLC saying I had won a holiday from a survey I had taken part in before christmas which I was a bit dubious about having read this thread once before. Unfortunately (he said) I hadn't won 1st prize to the Carribean but a runners up prize to Europe, Spain, Canaries or Austria. I checked it out by phoning the freephone number which was an answerphone for Club La Costa checked out the web site and yep its basically timeshare. So I've not bothered. Like many on here I steer clear of holiday comps for this reason. I dread unfamiliar numbers on the phone you never know what idiots gonna try and hassle you next:mad:

We received the same call after filling out a survey in the street and was told to ring another number, claim our £50 Debenhams voucher code and take it along to a presentation to claim our 5* holiday. After reading several bad reports about Club La Costa/Whiteword Enterprises (or whoever they trade as) we decided to give it a miss.

Coincidently we had a hol booked to Tenerife the following month and while walking back from the beach one day boyf and I were approached by 2 rough looking men on mopeds giving us lots of small talk and a promise of a bottle of spirits if we went with them in a 'free' taxi to a presentation on the 5* complex run by Club La Costa! You just can't get away from these people! Told them very politely but firmly 'NO!' we want to enjoy our holiday in peace.