AG Nessel Reissues Consumer Alert on Sweepstakes

LANSING – As part of National Consumer Protection Week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing her consumer alert on sweepstakes. Sweepstakes are advertisements used to attract attention to a business’ products or services by offering consumers a chance to win a prize.

“While there are legitimate, reputable companies that use sweepstakes promotions fairly and honestly, others may use them to deceive consumers,” said Attorney General Nessel. “Before entering a sweepstakes, remember to read the fine print and never provide bank account information or other sensitive details in advance.”

When entering into a sweepstakes, Attorney General Nessel encourages consumers to remember:

• Buying a product from the company holding the sweepstakes will not help you win.
• Sweepstakes are games of chance. The winner has not been identified. If you enter, your entry will have the same chance to win as every other entry. No one knows who the winner is until after the sweepstakes ends.
• Responding to sweepstakes promotions, and especially buying anything, will cause you to get more promotions.
• Never give a credit card number, bank account information, Social Security number, or any other personal information to someone who calls you urging you to join a sweepstakes.
• If you have to pay anything to collect a prize, you didn't win. A popular tactic that some disreputable operations use is to contact you and tell you about a great prize that you've won but then say that you have to pay a small "handling fee," or "shipping fee" before your prize is delivered.
• Never pay "taxes" to a sweepstakes promoter. Another popular tactic the con artists use is to require a pre-payment of taxes. No legitimate company will ever ask you to pay taxes to them to release your prize.
• Don't be fooled by deceptive envelopes that include statements such as "REGISTERED DOCUMENT ENCLOSED," or refer to fines and imprisonment for a person who tampers with the envelope.
• If you get a call from a telemarketer that involves a sweepstakes or prize promotion, the caller is required to tell you:
• The odds of winning a prize.
• That no purchase or payment is required to enter or win a prize.
• How to participate without buying or paying anything.
• The costs or conditions you will have to meet to get a prize.
• Read the sweepstakes rules carefully, including any fine print. Pay attention to the dates when entries are accepted, the odds of winning, and any restrictions on entries.
• You have the right to stop the mailings. By law, all sweepstakes offers must include an address or toll-free phone number where anyone, including a caregiver, may direct that their name and address be taken off the sweepstakes firm's mailing list.

If you have any questions about sweepstakes promotions, mailings, or calls that you receive, you may contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team at: 

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form

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