I won two Instagram contests over the weekend. The first was for a yarn giveaway which I was very excited to win. However, an odd thing was that I was required to sign up online with some movie platform for a free week in order to win my free yarn. I didn't want to belong to this movie platform but I read all the fine print that said I could cancel after my free period and there would be no further charge. Yea, right. I did it though and monitored my bank account carefully. There was a $1 pending charge from them but it dropped off.
Then I was notified I won the contest from Bob's Red Mill. I've heard of them but I was again sent to a different but exactly the same movie platform. This time I really rebelled. I told them I didn't want it and gave them my address and said to send the prize to myself. They refused and said it was required. So I tried to log on and the site wouldn't let me. I can only assume it was because I entered then canceled from the yarn win. I called the helpline and the woman kept telling me something to do and then would try to get off the phone before I could even try her suggestion. I never was able to log on. I contacted the contest people again but since it was the holiday weekend I got no response. I contacted Bob's corporate headquarters and the same, no response because of the holiday. So I waited and no response from either after three days.
Yesterday I saw a post from the yarn lady saying someone was hijacking her account and she would never ask for a credit card number. I'm going to contact her shortly and let her know about my experience.
I've tried to be patient through this but today I decided to post on Bob's Red Mill Instagram account, his corporate contact page, and the latest giveaway that Bob has posted to warn future entrants.
Wild, huh? I did want the Bob's prize but I don't really expect to hear from anyone. Then, after all that, I got an email from Quaker Chewey contest I won. I received a large box from them already and they originally told me the "gift card" would come under separate cover.
When you hear gift card do you think something like Visa or a store card to be spent one place? I just wasn't sure so I've been patiently waiting and hoping it is a Visa, supposedly in the amount of $250. That is a nice bit of change and I'm going to believe it when I see it. Anyway, the email I just received said it is on its way by Fed Ex. I can only hope.
More later ...
Oh, that is SO frustrating. Sorry. Hope you get that gift card!
ReplyDeleteComing by Fed Ex...sounds really promising, doesn't it. Be careful with those online contests that you aren't giving bank and card numbers, etc out.
ReplyDeleteI hope your gift card arrives and that it is for real. I am skeptical of internet contests and scams.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an "entertaining" way to spend Covid days - fighting for your prize. That is just so wrong. Can you report them to the Better Business Bureau?
ReplyDeleteIt all sounds very fishy to me.
ReplyDeleteHope it is a Visa gift card. You have to be careful about scamming and hacking these days even when you win obviously.
ReplyDeleteIf that fraudulant company charged a $1 that was to see if this was a good account. I'd tell your bank that was a fraudlant company because now they have your credit info = the bank can hold anything they try to do again. I've had to do that to protect my monies. Don't let them get more from you.
ReplyDeleteOoh I was afraid those prizes would have a catch. Hope you dodge all the flack.
ReplyDeleteNot so nice about the scammers. But I'm crossing my fingers that you get the $250!!
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