Concerned about your privacy and entering competitions?

[mininesslyn]

Hi everyone,

The issue has been raised by some new members about entering competitions and having their personal details on the internet including name, address and phone number.

I thought I'd start this thread to help other compers long and short term to possibly ease the concerns that some may have. We'd love your input good and bad, also tips that anyone might have.

ie: create a free email address for competition entering only

Please post away and help your fellow compers 

[hanky_panky]

Good point mininesslyn, for those with these concerns.

As a comper for nearly 5 years now here at ACC, i have NEVER encountered any problems

entering competitions with my personal details. 

If we do come across anything a bit suss with a site, we do let all our members know

about it. 

[snuggle1]

Some of my, along with some other people's details were supplied via the e-mail itself by someone who, amongst other things, was sending me some details about a competition.

If someone wants to pm me, I will advise members as to which site that it came from.

[sash76]

with your email account you use for comping and also for the competitions that require you to set up a profile/username/password make sure you make up a fairly difficult password ie a combination of BOTH uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers.  My original password wasn't strong enough and someone hacked into my email and sent spam to all my contacts.

[gottawin]

Don't use the same password for comps as you do everything else... 

[reet57]

Is anyone here on Facebook  just for the comps? After all the latest hooha about Facebook privacy, I'm wondering whether it would be worth it. Hubby says it is very insecure, could I join up just for the comps without doing anything else? How much info do I need to display? Thanks in advance for any tips 

[snuggle1]

Is anyone here on Facebook  just for the comps? After all the latest hooha about Facebook privacy, I'm wondering whether it would be worth it. Hubby says it is very insecure, could I join up just for the comps without doing anything else? How much info do I need to display? Thanks in advance for any tips 

You do not need to display a lot of information. Your name and date of birth amongst the information. Yes, I am on Facebook just for the competitions. However, I started only this month.

[wattle]

It's not the amount of spam I get that bothers me, I just use free email accounts just for comping and keep family/business stuff seperate. What does bother me is the possibility of identity theft, I usually spell my first name a little differently ie a C instead of a K for Kathy and just use the short version of my name, I also only try to use "Cath" for comping purposes, family and friends don't call me that so if it's an actual letter that turns up here if it's got the short version of my name I know it's comp related. I also don't put my exact birth date in comps when they ask for it, usually off by a year or two.
I  have a fake name/ addy at the top of my email contact list just in case I manage to pick up something nasty that sends out to all my contacts, I read somewhere that if you have  a fake one at the top of the list it stopped going out to everyone else on the list once it couldn't go to the top one, don't know if it works or not but I figure it can't hurt.
I think that if you've been comping for a while you tend to know if a comp isn't right, some you just know to stear clear off. 

[Allegra]

I have also been wondering about joining Facebook as there are more and more competitions where you need to be Facebook.  However I have no interest in Facebook and also worry about security.  I have never had any security problems re my email address/personal details.

sash76, your little boy is soooo cute!

[snuggle1]

I have also been wondering about joining Facebook as there are more and more competitions where you need to be Facebook.  However I have no interest in Facebook and also worry about security.  I have never had any security problems re my email address/personal details.

sash76, your little boy is soooo cute!

Unfortunately, I have not been so fortunate. I sent a Resume off to a business, only to discover that it was a scam. This had all of my contact information along with contact details of 4 Referees.

[april3577317]

I use a Skype phone, for around $60 a year, you get a phone number any land line  or mobile can call you on and you can call any land line in Australia for nothing, this way you don't have to give your home number and if you get any telemarketing calls you can block that number, also it records voice messages and any numbers called or missed. You can get a Skype phone off ebay for around $40 or just use ear phones and a mircophone. It also allows you to accept SMS messages.

[MsComplover]

It's not the amount of spam I get that bothers me, I just use free email accounts just for comping and keep family/business stuff seperate. What does bother me is the possibility of identity theft, I usually spell my first name a little differently ie a C instead of a K for Kathy and just use the short version of my name, I also only try to use "Cath" for comping purposes, family and friends don't call me that so if it's an actual letter that turns up here if it's got the short version of my name I know it's comp related. I also don't put my exact birth date in comps when they ask for it, usually off by a year or two.
I  have a fake name/ addy at the top of my email contact list just in case I manage to pick up something nasty that sends out to all my contacts, I read somewhere that if you have  a fake one at the top of the list it stopped going out to everyone else on the list once it couldn't go to the top one, don't know if it works or not but I figure it can't hurt.
I think that if you've been comping for a while you tend to know if a comp isn't right, some you just know to stear clear off. 

Please be very wary of putting in a fake birthdate.
I did this for security reasons last year and was disqualifiied from a $1000 win because it was wrong.
The company wouldn't accept my reasons for doing so, so I have learnt my lesson.
As you can imagine, I was devastated, all I could think was at least it wasn't a bigger prize than that I missed out on. 

[reet57]

april, when you say any landline, are you saying you can enter premium numbers with Skype?

[Arran]

If you win money the bank probably wouldn't deposit the cheque into your account if the name is different.  I use my maiden name for a lot of comps and if I am lucky enough to win, take my marriage certificate with me to prove identity, but they get a bit narky if you do it too often!

[jonmic]

I am waiting on a prize that i needed to prove my identity to collect..photo copy of DL and a signed stat. dec.....am still waiting 3 months later (cruddy itunes voucher worth $30 bucks) and the promo people have told me there is a discrepency with my birthdate (dont know what happened as i always put in correct birthdate)....and head office has now got my paper work... dont care whether i get prize but what a lot of stu#$&**ing around! Thanx Coke...!

So birthdate and accurate info is becoming essential for prize claims!

[Valleygirl]

Is anyone here on Facebook  just for the comps? After all the latest hooha about Facebook privacy, I'm wondering whether it would be worth it. Hubby says it is very insecure, could I join up just for the comps without doing anything else? How much info do I need to display? Thanks in advance for any tips 

They have just made their privacy options easier (or easier than what it was) yesterday. The only details you need to give them to sign up is your name, sex, email and date of birth.  Then you can make everything about yourself private(if you choose to add anything else). The only information mine will show to anyone who is not my friend is my name and that I am Female. They cant see the country I'm from, my date of birth etc.
With most of the competitions I have seen they are Fan Pages so you dont add them as a 'friend' therefore I dont think they can see any of your personal info.

I read this article a month ago that concerned me http://consumerist.com/2010/04/facebook-kills-more-of-your-privacy-for-cash.html but i don't list my current city, hometown, education, work...and only have a few interests listed so there is not much any advertiser can find out about me

[april3577317]

april, when you say any landline, are you saying you can enter premium numbers with Skype?

No Sorry, you can't call premium numbers.

[koala7]

I use an email address which is a hotmail one without any of my names on it and I use that one specially for entering competitions. I often unsubscribe from newsletters after the competition time is over. Also, I don't use my true birthdate, just tweak the details a bit, for securty reasons. I know it's a risk I am taking though that if asked to provide proof of my birthdate to claim a prize, I could regret doing that. I think I'd rather take the chance though.

[jonmic]

I am waiting on a prize that i needed to prove my identity to collect..photo copy of DL and a signed stat. dec.....am still waiting 3 months later (cruddy itunes voucher worth $30 bucks) and the promo people have told me there is a discrepency with my birthdate (dont know what happened as i always put in correct birthdate)....and head office has now got my paper work... dont care whether i get prize but what a lot of stu#$&**ing around! Thanx Coke...!

So birthdate and accurate info is becoming essential for prize claims!

Quick follow up....They didnt send my prize..just a 3 or more page letter with their terms and conditions saying any inaccurate details made my entry null and void, etc...so incorrect birthdate stopped me getting my prize...

[koala7]

Yes, jonmic, I agree, I had read your previous posting and understand that. I'd rather take the risk of losing a prize than risk my identity though. Hopefully winners don't get ask to provide their birthdate too often.

[wundergurl]

I wouldnt send in my drivers license for a $30 prize and personally think its wrong for them to ask for a small prize... Recently I won a ipod touch value $268 they wanted proof of id and she said i could just take a pic of my license and email her the photo b4 i did it I blurred my signature and license number  and they were ok with that just making sure I was a real person

[koala7]

Don't blame you wundergurl, that's a great idea to blur your signature and license number.

[mnew9]

Please be very wary of putting in a fake birthdate.
I did this for security reasons last year and was disqualifiied from a $1000 win because it was wrong.
The company wouldn't accept my reasons for doing so, so I have learnt my lesson.
As you can imagine, I was devastated, all I could think was at least it wasn't a bigger prize than that I missed out on. 

Sorry to read about your disqualification MsComplover.
Unless a contestant is below the required age to enter the competition, I do not understand why promoters need someones exact DOB.

I must say that in all the years I've been comping I have never been asked for proof of my birthdate in order to receive a prize. I've had to supply copies of my drivers licence on some occasions but that is a rarity.

I think comp promoters should realise that in these times of internet scams that entrants are worried about leaving too many personal details with them. I often wonder what happens to all those details supplied by entrants after a promotion has ended.

[jonmic]

I wouldnt send in my drivers license for a $30 prize and personally think its wrong for them to ask for a small prize... Recently I won a ipod touch value $268 they wanted proof of id and she said i could just take a pic of my license and email her the photo b4 i did it I blurred my signature and license number  and they were ok with that just making sure I was a real person

i didnt send in my drivers license...just a photo copy of it

Yep...it was stupid to ask for so much info..i only did it because it was a Coke promo with a stat. dec. required to be signed as well..all very above board but i did let them know in an email i was upset about my details being in their hands and they told me it would be destroyed...i only hope it did happen....

[wundergurl]

I wouldnt send in my drivers license for a $30 prize and personally think its wrong for them to ask for a small prize... Recently I won a ipod touch value $268 they wanted proof of id and she said i could just take a pic of my license and email her the photo b4 i did it I blurred my signature and license number  and they were ok with that just making sure I was a real person

i didnt send in my drivers license...just a photo copy of it

Yep...it was stupid to ask for so much info..i only did it because it was a Coke promo with a stat. dec. required to be signed as well..all very above board but i did let them know in an email i was upset about my details being in their hands and they told me it would be destroyed...i only hope it did happen....

LOL I know you didnt actually send your license I meant a copy

[netgal08]

I am waiting on a prize that i needed to prove my identity to collect..photo copy of DL and a signed stat. dec.....am still waiting 3 months later (cruddy itunes voucher worth $30 bucks) and the promo people have told me there is a discrepency with my birthdate (dont know what happened as i always put in correct birthdate)....and head office has now got my paper work... dont care whether i get prize but what a lot of stu#$&**ing around! Thanx Coke...!

So birthdate and accurate info is becoming essential for prize claims!

Quick follow up....They didnt send my prize..just a 3 or more page letter with their terms and conditions saying any inaccurate details made my entry null and void, etc...so incorrect birthdate stopped me getting my prize...

I won the same comp and as much as I really wanted the voucher to buy some iphone apps I decided not to bother.  I can't believe a $30 prize would involve so much stuffing around! I won a ps3 last year and I did't need any id checks or anything. I wasn't even the one to sign for my prize when it was delivered.