Lottery SCAMs...and how to avoid them!

Lies, Fakery, Greed and Tomfoolery

A collection of mailed SCAMs

Quotations from a (4 Red Flag rated) SCAM letter sent by: “Free Contour Bed”

Please remember, the quotations below are from the SCAM letter from “Contour® Adjustable Bed” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

Image of Contour logo

“FORM CCR103 CWA 052011

PERSONAL ENTRY CLAIM FORM AND FREE CHANCES TO WIN FOR IDENTIFIED ADDRESSEE

“First_Name Last_Name, let me introduce myself, my name is Joyce Johnson and I have been authorized to send you 12 FREE CHANCES TO WIN a Contour Classic Adjustable Bed!

Supposed image of Joyce Johnson

Dear First_Name Last_Name,

Red Flag  # 1  “Who doesn’t love a deep, restful night’s sleep? And who wouldn’t want to win a FREE state-of-the-art bed?

Red Flag  # 2  “Here’s your chance - in fact, you have 12 Chances to WIN a FREE Contour° Classic Adjustable Bed. There’s absolutely no cost or purchase necessary to enter our FREE Contour Win-A-Bed Sweepstakes. For the next twelve months, we’re simply awarding one free bed to one customer every month...and one of those lucky winners could be YOU!

Over 1,000,000 customers can’t be wrong . Contour is the revolutionary system that allows you to adjust your bed to your preferences for a better sleep experience. It’s designed for everyone — from athletes, exhausted parents and stressed-out executives, to those with minor aches and pains. To date, over 1,000,000 customers have awakened feeling refreshed and invigorated thanks to the benefits of their Contour Adjustable Beds.

You could get all these benefits for FREE! You’ve already been issued 12 Chances to WIN a FREE Contour Adjustable Bed. And as you can see from the contest rules on back...There is absolutely no cost or purchase necessary to enter and a purchase will not increase your chances of winning.

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter from “Contour® Adjustable Bed” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

Red Flag  # 3  “So don’t wait - take a few seconds now to initial each of your FREE 12 Chances-to-WIN coupons and return the entire entry form in the postage paid envelope provided and mail it back today. You could be the next lucky winner!

“Sincerely,

Supposed image of Joyce Johnson

Your FREE Chances to Win on the enclosed sheet guarantees you 12 FREE Chances to WIN a Contour Classic Adjustable Bed. One chance for each of the next 12 months. And it’s all absolutely FREE-FREE-FREE, there is Absolutely No Cost or Purchase Necessary to Enter and WIN! It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN offer you just can’t afford to refuse.

“YOUR 12 Chances to WIN Free Entry Form

12 FREE Chances to Win a Contour® Adjustable Bed. Its a WIN-WIN otter YOU can’t afford to refuse

“I have initialed each of my twelve (12) FREE chances to Win a Free Contour Adjustable Bed (one each month for the next 12 months). There is absolutely no cost or purchase necessary to enter and a purchase will not increase your chances of winning.

“Please provide me with information about the Contour Adjustable Bed.

Red Flag  # 4  “My Phone Number Is: ________________

“Email: ____________________


Remember Contour Gives Away an Adjustable Bed Every Month.
You, YES YOU Could Be Next Month’s Big Winner!

Please remember, the quotations above are from the SCAM letter from “Contour® Adjustable Bed” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

Red Flag  # 1  A common tactic of any sales pitch is get the customer to start saying “Yes”. Most SCAMs are simply an attempt to sell you nothing for something. No, I did’t make an error in that sentence! A Scammer is also a ‘sales person’, the difference is that the product will never be worth the money they will be getting from you. (return to # 1 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 2  There are a couple of problems with that paragraph. You are not a “customer”, you are simply one of several thousand people who were mailed the SCAM letter. You won’t even be a “customer” should you actually win one of these beds! A “customer” is someone who buys something from someone. In this case, if the bed is as bad as I’ seen reported elsewhere, you’ll be stuck with it! You’ll also have lost any of the inevitable costs that you will be charged for this “free” bed! (return to # 2 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 3  You’ll find this idea in practically every SCAM on this site. The idea is to get you to believe that you must act immediately. The last thing a SCAMmer wants you to do is take some time to research the offer. Just as bad for them is to talk things over with a friend or family member. The best thing for you to do is the worst thing for the SCAMmer! Investigate the claims the ‘product’, if any, and the SCAMmer! You can do it! Don’t fall for the “Act Now!” bait! (return to # 3 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 4  CAUTION!!! This SCAMmer already has your name and mailing address. Do you really want to give away your phone number and an email address, too?! That much information could easily pay for the mailing of these SCAM letters! Your personal information is valuable to SCAMmers! (return to # 4 Red Flag above)

The letter states the often erroneous logic that “Over 1,000,000 customers can’t be wrong.” Actually, any number of customers can be wrong. Here is a link ( CONSUMER AFFAIRS.com) to a site suggesting the one million number may not be accurate, anyway. At least there have been very few customers since 2007. Note that the company has changed its name to “Easy Rest Adjustable Sleep Systems” as of February, 2012. From reading the customer reviews at that link, you may not even want to risk the chance of actually winning one of these beds! It sounds like it might be beter for your health and safety to simply pay them NOT to deliver the bed!!! ;-)

The true purpose of this contest is probably as simple as collecting names, addresses and phone info from you. As you can see in the above “Entry Form”, they want your phone number and e-mail address. They already have your mailing information, of course.

My research also turned up the fact that this company has changed its name more than once. You may also have heard of “Craftmatic” Beds. Turns out to be the same company. Some have suggested that they change their name to avoid being found and being forced to pay their refund debts! Ripoff Report.com has other interesting information, also.

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