I received a letter from this business indicating that I had won a $500 prize. This letter had a prominently-displayed "winning" number which matched the number beneath the prize of $500 cash. Obviously I assumed this was a scam, but I went to the business to attempt to claim this prize.
When I arrived, a gentleman who I believe to be the owner stated that what I had actually won was an entry into a second sweepstakes. In this second sweepstakes, the odds of winning the $500 are 1/40,000. The gentleman seemed to believe that this was a legitimate way of doing business, as included in the original advertisment was a faint and obscured "confirmation code" which was the actual number used in the drawing. 39,995 out of 40,000 entrants would win only a trivial prize of $5 in lottery tickets.
This is illegal under Connecticut law for several reasons. First, businesses are required to list the cash values and odds of winning any prizes in a prominent place in all advertisements of sweepstakes, not in a small font on a separate page. Second, businesses are not allowed to issue any misleading or deceptive advertisement for a sweepstakes, regardless of any fine print included. Third, businesses may not indicate that someone has won a prize when, in fact, 'all or a substantial number of those "entering" receive the same "prize" or "opportunity."'
Any fine print is, in this case, irrelevant. The state of Connecticut is well aware of this kind of scam and has left no wriggle room to be exploited with fine print.
When I told the gentleman that this scheme is illegal and publicly accused him of fraud, he threatened to have me arrested. He additionally followed me to my car, insulted my family, and threatened me with physical violence. In particular, he threatend to beat me up, break my wrist, and break my nose.
I have reported the gentleman I met to the local police for his threats of violence and have reported the fraudulent scheme to several government agencies.
Danbury Kia Reviews
I received a letter from this business indicating that I had won a $500 prize. This letter had a prominently-displayed "winning" number which matched the number beneath the prize of $500 cash. Obviously I assumed this was a scam, but I went to the business to attempt to claim this prize.
When I arrived, a gentleman who I believe to be the owner stated that what I had actually won was an entry into a second sweepstakes. In this second sweepstakes, the odds of winning the $500 are 1/40,000. The gentleman seemed to believe that this was a legitimate way of doing business, as included in the original advertisment was a faint and obscured "confirmation code" which was the actual number used in the drawing. 39,995 out of 40,000 entrants would win only a trivial prize of $5 in lottery tickets.
This is illegal under Connecticut law for several reasons. First, businesses are required to list the cash values and odds of winning any prizes in a prominent place in all advertisements of sweepstakes, not in a small font on a separate page. Second, businesses are not allowed to issue any misleading or deceptive advertisement for a sweepstakes, regardless of any fine print included. Third, businesses may not indicate that someone has won a prize when, in fact, 'all or a substantial number of those "entering" receive the same "prize" or "opportunity."'
Any fine print is, in this case, irrelevant. The state of Connecticut is well aware of this kind of scam and has left no wriggle room to be exploited with fine print.
When I told the gentleman that this scheme is illegal and publicly accused him of fraud, he threatened to have me arrested. He additionally followed me to my car, insulted my family, and threatened me with physical violence. In particular, he threatend to beat me up, break my wrist, and break my nose.
I have reported the gentleman I met to the local police for his threats of violence and have reported the fraudulent scheme to several government agencies.