Holiday Competition (Pay extra to add your kids) scams on the BBC

sleepyjones

"When [***** **********] saw an Instagram post about winning a week's holiday to Tenerife she tagged a friend to enter and thought little more about it."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53690501

grannybiker

Oh er, I entered an Instagram AI holiday only today... https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6174585/e-09-08-win-a-7-night-holiday-for-up-to-6-people-at-5-star-all-inclusive-resort-in-crete-ig
Nothing rang any alarm bells

grannybiker

Also, steer clear of promotions that ask you to enter by liking a Facebook page, or a post or that encourages people to tag a page on Facebook, or retweet on Twitter.

They are breaking the rules of the platforms, so the promotion is likely to be dodgy, said Mr Stern.

Most of the comps on FB, Twitter or Instagram do just this. In fact many Instagram say more tags = more entries, (Which can lead to a ban- FB has periods where they ban too.)
And Facebook, who also own Instagram, won't take it up with the pages, by banning they punish the user. 
Basically FB want companies to take out paid ads, (I know as I run a page for something non-trading.)  Offering a prize that encourages likes, shares or tags does all that advertising / word-spreading for free, or at the cost of a packet of biscuits, scented candle etc

sleepyjones

I think the more worrying thing would be handing over your card details.   You think you'd be careful, but if I got the call I'm not so sure I would consider it.
None of this scenario applies to me, but this is how I imagine it.
You enter a comp on Instagram, win a holiday for 2 to Spain.  You probably wouldn't think anything of it, "WooHoo, we won".  When I'm claiming the prize I ask if I can pay extra to bring my 2 kids, "sure" they say [dramatic pause] ...  "I'll be £50 per child", so you would probably just give them your card details because you expect there to be a fee, they can then just clear your account buying e-gift cards or something.

libra10

Someone on FB tried to scam me on Facebook earlier today.  I had entered a competition on The Perfume Shop's FB page to win a bottle of Marc Jacob's Daisy perfume, and received a message to say I had won.  However the link took me to a page similar to the original, but without a tick at the side of their name.  They wanted me to download software and register.
I know this is a regular thing these days, and we all need to be aware.

thingamaBob

libra10 said:

Someone on FB tried to scam me on Facebook earlier today.  I had entered a competition on The Perfume Shop's FB page to win a bottle of Marc Jacob's Daisy perfume, and received a message to say I had won.  However the link took me to a page similar to the original, but without a tick at the side of their name.  They wanted me to download software and register.
I know this is a regular thing these days, and we all need to be aware.

Looks like everyone who entered is getting a scam winners message. The actual comp doesn't even end until tonight.