OT: How to tell a sweepstakes from a scam?

[iheartdisney]

DD8 clicked on a link from Neopets today, and it says she won an ipod in the Capri Sun Disrespectoids Sweepstakes. I clicked on every link on the page, and even back a few pages and it seems legit. But how can you be sure?
And am I naive in assuming that links on kids' sites are generally safe?
I am about to mail in the claim form, I just to ask if anyone knows any better.
Thanks!!!
EDITED TO ADD:
Here is the contest that she entered. She clicked a link that took her to the contest.
http://www.kraftbrands.com/caprisun/disrespectoids

 

[plutoplanet]

I don't know but you have to pay anything? Like does it say just cover shipping and handing...etc

 

[bwilcox]

I just googled it, and it seems legit. I would mail it in unless it asks for money or personal info.

 

[mjkacmom]

I got the kids their own desktop, just because the links they clicked on totally killed my computer! I think kids' websites are just as bad, if not worse, than porn sites. Even when I begged them not to open up pop-ups, my computer needed to be cleaned.

 

[ThreeBeans]

She clicked on a link? Didn't fill anything out, didn't enter anything?

99.9% sure that's a scam. You have to actually enter things to win them.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

One quick google and here are the qualifications from the contest, Which by the way is OVER.

Eligibility: Open to residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 6 – 12 years of age.

Entry Dates: Beginning at 12:01 am ET on January 17, 2011 through 11:59 pm ET on February 6, 2011.

How to enter: Visit www.kraftbrands.com/caprisun/disrespectoids and wait until the site loads and the click PICK PEGGY’S PUNISHMENT, click Skip, Vote and then Enter.

Entry Limit: One entry per day per login & password/person.
Prizes:

(1) Grand Prize: Daytona USA 2 Sit Down Driver Video Game. ARV: $3,900

INSTANT WIN GAME:
(63) First Prizes (3 per day): Winner may choose one of any of the following: Ultra HD Flip Video Camera, ARV: $199.99; or a Razor E200 Electric Scooter, ARV: $219.99; or an Audivox-RCA 9″ LCD Portable DVD Player, ARV: $200
Prize Limit: One Instant Win Game prize per login & password/person/household.

Drawing Date: On or about February 8, 2011.

Official rules: kraft.promotions.com/capridisres/page.do?page=rules_ntb.html

Sweeps Rating: Good

Hope this helps, looks like she got a scam click through. As others stated you have to sign-up before you can play the games.

 

[iheartdisney]

You might have found a past promotion. Here is what she did.
http://www.kraftbrands.com/caprisun/disrespectoids/
The choice of prizes were a $200 Apple Gift Card, an ipod touch 8GB, or an ipod nano 16 GB
And she did have to create and account- which she fessed up to. Sometimes she is too smart for her own good, but everything she does is routed through my email address, so we can keep on top of what she signs up for.
I did a test run through- and didn't win, so I think it might have been an actual prize!
The form we had to mail in was just something I had to sign, saying she had permission, and our street adress. The fine print states that they won't use our info for any other purposes. No credit card info.
We'll know for sure in a few weeks when we do or don't get an ipod!
Thanks again

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Good luck! I would really have a conversation with her though. If she did win, she will be more apt to sign up without your permission. Actually, I would most likely hold it for a few days when you get it. Just so she knows she has to ask for permission first.

It's really great that she won, but is also could have been a huge disaster for you if it was a scam or trojan horse.

 

[pinktink83]

9.9 times out of 10, theyre just scams and will give you a virus or major spam. I hope you dont keep valuable info on your computer! DH has had to give people the bad news that they have lost everything- family pictures, word docs, etc....many many times.

Also, but an 8yo with access to email and internet time without supervision? EEKS! Time to toughen up the rules I think!

 

[azdizzymom]

My computer this past week has been popping up with all kinds of things I "won"! I could have won an IPad and lots of other stuff. I don't know what got onto the computer but know as soon as one of those pop-up they are spam and ignore them. As in your case all I have to do is give some info...no payment. I wouldn't hold my breath but if she does get it that is great!

 

[iheartdisney]

Also, but an 8yo with access to email and internet time without supervision? EEKS! Time to toughen up the rules I think!

It is my parenting choice that at 8 she needs to learn responsible internet usage. She isn't "unsupervised". She uses the family computer in the front room, or at Boys and Girls Club. The only email she has access to is mine, so again, it isn't unsupervised. We did catch her a few months ago trying to set up her own email, and she lost EVERY privelage she had for 2 weeks, plus a very, very scary talking to about the dangers there, so she knows not to do it again.

 

[azdizzymom]

It is my parenting choice that at 8 she needs to learn responsible internet usage. She isn't "unsupervised". She uses the family computer in the front room, or at Boys and Girls Club. The only email she has access to is mine, so again, it isn't unsupervised. We did catch her a few months ago trying to set up her own email, and she lost EVERY privelage she had for 2 weeks, plus a very, very scary talking to about the dangers there, so she knows not to do it again.

Kids do have ways of doing things behind our backs. Even when we are 'watching' their computer usage they can still do things. It is so easy to set up emails online and it just takes a minute to do. I have a 15 and 14 year old---my boys have known for years how to set up emails. Yes, I like to say I really watch what my kids are doing online but we can't be there 24 hours a day watching over that computer screen. My youngest came to me yesterday and said he had used my one email for his XBOX live account or something (that is a whole other area you have to supervise if they are talking to others playing video games.....I can't tell you how many warnings they have gotten on you never say anything to anyone about where you live and only play with YOUR friends). BUT...kids are kids. About 3 years ago my oldest did have a yahoo email we signed him up for. We have ALL access to these emails.....he somehow created an ebay account and WON A BID! In all honesty I have no idea how ebay works or what he put in. I had to email the person and say it was my child and apologized up and down. Thankfully the person was good about it or we would have had a $70+ soccer jersey. Also, Facebook is another scary area. I can tell you kids need to learn not to post stupid stuff or stupid pictures, etc. It will come back to haunt them later! I watch my kids facebook accounts too---thankfully they have gotten out of that phase now! Cell phones and texting and picture messages are another area...at our small school several girls have sent topless or bra pictures of themselves to one person who forwards....then you get the rest. I have told my boys they can get in big trouble if they ever get a picture like that...delete and don't look at or save on phone.

We as parents try to protect our kids and say we watch internet usage, phone usage, video game usage, etc. But in all honest I think we can say we do become lax on it at times. Yes, I check the cell phones but not as much as I did at first. Yes, I watch the internet usage but not as much...same with video games. We hope that as parents we are doing enough but we are all so busy we can't protect or watch 24 hours.

Thankfully your daughter's thing was a sweepstakes only....as I said in first post I wouldn't hold my breathe on that one. I have seen so many pop-up ads of winning these past couple weeks. I don't know if I got something on computer or my kids did (think I did signing up to play some stupid games on GSN website). So if she clicked some site it could have made something pop-up. These sits make it look so real like you have won and are the only winner. My will even say you won for XXXXXXX city today!

We as parents need to watch and we all have our own way. I know many of my kids friend's parents don't watch what they do or are looking at on computers.

Good luck....

 

[tkitty]

It sounds like a ligit one to me. But, did you as the parent get an email saying that your child had entered- most seem to do this. I enter alot of contests and some are for my grandson, who won an IPod from a Disney contest a while back. I think they just sent me the email that he won, and I may have had to respond in some way. But he did get it.
Many sweepstakes wins will alert you with an email from some sort of "Fulfillment" email when you've won.

As I re-read the OP's post I am much more unsure- it didn't sound like she entered a contest after all? Just clicked on a link... hope she gets it.