Sunday, December 10, 2006

Beware of this Internet Scam

There are several companies out there who are scamming people over the Net with so-called "quick surveys". What they're doing is offering these very tempting gifts, like a $500 gift card from Best Buy, free iPODs, flatscreen TV's, etc. In their junk, unsolicited e-mails, they say all you have to do is answer a few questions and the gift is yours. Well, you know what they say -- when something seems too good to be true...Well, the scam part is that they make it literally impossible for you to complete the surveys. And if you don't sign up for stuff, you don't get the prize. Some of the surveys go so far as to request your social security number as required information they need in order for you to complete the survey. I spent at least 35 minutes going through this labyrinthe of surveys and offers for things like Columbia Music Club, Verizon, Coca-Cola, etc. The catch is that even after you're unable to jump through their obstacle course of hoops, and, of course, thereby fail to qualify for their dangling carrot of a prize, you are still signed up for all these offers. These companies now have your e-mail address, your home address, and, in some cases, your home phone and cell phone numbers. So, now you're going to be inundated with sales calls from companies bugging you, all because you went for a prize gift you had literally no chance of getting. I should know better!
The name of the place is:
Exclusive Gift Cards
13900 Jog Road, Suite 203-251
Delray, FL 33446
(561) 674-9700

They are a complete rip-off!! Beware!!