(final update post 28) Did I just win?? Any sweepers out here?

[Disney Addicted]

I received an e-mail about 1/2 an hour ago saying I am a winner. I think I remember entering the contest. (I have entered a lot).

-- The e-mail looks real (no other names, correct grammer & spelling & sentence structure)
-- there is a company webpage listing the contest
-- they also have a facebook page - lists the contest as well
-- The information in the e-mail matches the webpage & facebook page, plus the PDF contest rules page.
-- I also did a yellowpage search for the company to verify the address matches the one provided in the e-mail & webpage (it does)
-- I also googled the manager's name on the e-mail, and she has a facebook account listed living in the same city as the company

They want a copy of my driver's license e-mailed to them. Before I do that, how else can I make sure it's legit? I tried phoning a few minutes ago to verify that they have such-and-such employee working for them but I guess they are closed.

I'm afraid to get excited but at the same time, I'm all

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Google the company .... and don't be in a rush to give them anything

 

[LSmith]

Sounds fishy to me.

Phone the actual company and not the phone number on the email that you have received.

 

[damo]

Why would they need your driver's license?

 

[LSmith]

I just spoke to my husband who is a fraud investigator and he says never give your driver's license to anyone through an email. It's almost 100% identity theft. Very common fraud. He says to tell them you will go to their company with the information that they need.

Once someone has your name and birthdate they can obtain almost anything.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Phone the actual company and not the phone number on the email that you have received.

I did, but they are closed right now. So far the web page, facebook page, yellowpages.ca and white pages (bell phone book) all match the address & phone # in the e-mail.

Why would they need your driver's license?

The contest rules state the winner needs to prove their age of majority and that they live in the Durham Region. I figure the driver's license is the easiest way to do this?

I just spoke to my husband who is a fraud investigator and he says never give your driver's license to anyone through an email. It's almost 100% identity theft. Very common fraud. He says to tell them you will go to their company with the information that they need.

Once someone has your name and birthdate they can obtain almost anything.

My husband suggests the same. The company is about a 40 minute drive. I would either need to wait until Friday (when he's off work), or borrow my parents' vehicle. But I think this is a very good idea as it would be proof it's legit. I'm positive the company itself is legit. I see their advertising around here all the time and have spoken to people who have been a client. I just want to make sure the contest is legit and not someone using their company's name to get people's information.

 

[LSmith]

I did, but they are closed right now. So far the web page, facebook page, yellowpages.ca and white pages (bell phone book) all match the address & phone # in the e-mail.



The contest rules state the winner needs to prove their age of majority and that they live in the Durham Region. I figure the driver's license is the easiest way to do this?



My husband suggests the same. The company is about a 40 minute drive. I would either need to wait until Friday (when he's off work), or borrow my parents' vehicle. But I think this is a very good idea as it would be proof it's legit. I'm positive the company itself is legit. I see their advertising around here all the time and have spoken to people who have been a client. I just want to make sure the contest is legit and not someone using their company's name to get people's information.

So the company itself could be legit but someone might be trying to commit identity theft through a company that has no idea what is going on. Yes, I sound paranoid but that's what happens when your husband deals with this kind of thing for a living. EVERYONE is a potential criminal!

Whew. Glad I got that off my chest. BTW We are travel junkies and I often enter contests through many travel sites. I really hope you did win!

Is there a reason why you don't want to tell us which company this is?

 

[Sue M]

That's a good idea to go to the company directly. You could also phone the police fraud dept, to ask about it too.
You don't know if it's a person just saying they are from that company. Check out the company on BBB too. See if there are any complaints about them.

 

[goofystitchfan]

I am an avid contest junkie..... I have never been asked to provide my license, unless I was at a location picking up the prize. Do not send anything.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Is there a reason why you don't want to tell us which company this is?

No, I don't know why I didn't. I guess I was afraid of jinxing it?

Property Guys for durham region. (pgdurham)

I just googled the manager operations name again and also found her listed in the business whitby chambers website as well.

The company's real, she's real - I'm getting more excited the contest is real!

I'll phone them tomorrow, and my dad said he can drive me there tomorrow afternoon.

 

[LSmith]

No, I don't know why I didn't. I guess I was afraid of jinxing it?

Property Guys for durham region. (pgdurham)

I just googled the manager operations name again and also found her listed in the business whitby chambers website as well.

The company's real, she's real - I'm getting more excited the contest is real!

I'll phone them tomorrow, and my dad said he can drive me there tomorrow afternoon.

Sounds good. Just remember to go to their office and do not email any information to them. Good luck! Let us know what happens. Also, they should not be asking for driver's licenses over the internet. Tread lightly with this.

 

[LSmith]

I can't see Property Guys having a contest .

Wait, I just found it! Fingers crossed for you!

 

[My 2 princesses]

I enter a lot too and I'm always worried about entering my exact birth date. I think my biggest online win was an iPad and even though the sponsor was in BC, it shipped from TO and I was never asked for an ID.

Good luck OP, I hope it works out for you. Question is, did you win 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize. Whatever it is, a win is a win.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Update --> Yesterday I had verified the phone # in the e-mail matched their website, facebook, yellowpages & white pages. I also googled the manager's name and found her listed in a few places on the web. So, I phoned and left a message saying I had received an e-mail and I wanted to verify the person it came from worked with their company and was real. I did not say "who" or "what" the e-mail was in regards to.

Before I had a chance to phone again this morning, they phoned me!!

Yes, it was their company who ran the contest. Yes, the e-mail is real. Yes, the manager works there (it was her). She had no problems with my bringing my license to the office instead of e-mailing it!

I'm so excited! It's the 1st prize for $3,000!

Last night when my husband walked in the door, he took one look at my face and said "how much"? I could not stop grining when I said $3,000 and explained I might have won it and not spent it.

Then later when he asked what I wanted to do with it, I hesitated and he said "I can see the mouse ears on your head".
He knows me so well. All I keep thinking is there's the airfare to LA for the Hawaiian cruise, even though we sort of agreed to cancel the booking. Which has not been cancelled yet...

 

[LSmith]

CONGRATS!

I would also be putting the money on a trip. Hawaii is the most beautiful place on earth.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Congrats!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Congratulations! That's a great prize!

 

[Celidh]

That's awesome for you! Congrats.

 

[maryliz]

CONGRATS ! Enjoy your windfall! And if it were me, those Mouse Ears would be on my head too !

 

[Susan2771]

Congratulations to you! Have a great time spending your winnings.