Does this seem strange? Trying to claim prize

redfox5

I won some RC Battle tanks the other day which I was pretty pleased with as they look really cool. 
I sent the company my name and address and was then told the prize provider would get in touch and give me an Amazon code. 
They did get in touch but from a personal account rather than a company one, went back to who I won the prize from and they confirmed this was okay. 

They didn't have an amazon code for me as they said it wasn't working and they wanted to Paypay me the money so I could then buy the product online at Amazon but we need to be online at the same time to do this. At this point my alarm bells started ringing so went back the company and been reassured it's all legit. 

I then suggested to the prize provider that they just order the product directly from amazon to my address, as this seemed reasonable. But he is saying that I might claim that the prize didn't show up and it would take a long time to get to me if that happened? I've advised that UK amazon tracks the item so he would see clearly if the item was delivered to me or not. He's now come back with it would take to long to get my info onto the system and I wouldn't get a tracking number? And it would take to long to get to me. I've just checked the item on Amazon and it can be here on 15th June. 

This seems so odd and I really don't want to do the Paypay thing as worried either the wrong amount will be transferred over, or that I'll spend it on this prize and then they could claim the money back through Paypal. 

Am I being paranoid? Or does this sound really odd to everyone else? I'm thinking about telling them just to leave it.   

[Deleted User]

 Sounds very odd. He could claim having been hacked and get the money back but I'm more confused as to why you need to be online at the same time. I'd run a mile. 

redfox5

_shel said:

 Sounds very odd. He could claim having been hacked and get the money back but I'm more confused as to why you need to be online at the same time. I'd run a mile. 

Yeah he's just come back with saying that if they have to send the prize directly it will take to long as it's not in stock, when I can see it's in stock on Amazon. He's just said now he will contact me when it's in stock so I'm going to assume I won't be getting this prize. Such a shame  

pate-ci0

This does sound like an individual blogger or similar has run the competition and this method of prize delivery is very strange and fraught with potential fraud. To say that an Amazon voucher does not work is patently untrue. Personally I would inform them that I did not have a Paypal account, have no intention of setting  up a Paypal account, and send them a link to where they can purchase an Amazon giftcard made out to your email address, for the current Amazon price of the (in-stock) prize. For avoidance of doubt, they should take a screenshot of the Amazon confirmation page for the giftcard: if there is disagreement regarding delivery of the giftcard then Amazon can confirm or deny that the giftcard was ordered for you. I would also inform them that if this is not acceptable, or if they will not order and send the prize directly, then I would take further steps to report this to the company that ran the competition, the ASA, and comment negatively on any of their social medial pages than I can find.

NoVaccinePassportsAnywhere

Such a shame that you've missed out on a prize, but it all sounds very fishy to me. Sounds like a scammer. 

Blulu

If it wasn't in their T+C, I would contact them to say that, adding that it's their responsibility to sort out sending you your prize; that you are not prepared to sort it yourself, and that you will contact Trading Standards, or Citizens Advice, about it. If they're legit, that should scare them enough to send it to you. If it doesn't, well then you might want to contact CAB and or Action Fraud to report them.

Hope it works out for you.

Blu XXX

redfox5

Right so apparently my prize has now been sent out, lets see if it gets here! 

Thanks for all your advice everyone!