Bargain Hunters Warned Over Bogus Internet Offers
This blog entry was posted on: 10 January 2010
Here at freebielist.com, we are urging bargain-hungry Web surfers to be on the lookout for bogus freebies, offers and bargains. The warning comes amid growing concerns over credit card fraud, spam and identity theft.
With the current economic turmoil, more people than ever are attempting to save money by searching for free offers and bargains on the Web, but as in the brick and mortar world, there is often a catch.
Many offers warrant closer inspection and it is good advice to be wary of any offer purporting to be free, especially on the Web. Caution is advised otherwise personal details could fall foul of a marketing scam, or perhaps worse. It is sound advice to do the research before committing yourself to an offer. Remember: If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Despite the minefield of bogus offers available online, legitimate freebies and great savings can be found safely and easily. Tangible items such as make-up, hair products, DVDs, magazines, food and drink, and fragrances can be requested via the Internet, completely free of charge and with no catches. Digital freebies, such as software, games, fonts and free reminder services, can also be obtained. Free money-off coupons, suitable for obtaining discounts at top stores and restaurants, are also popular at the minute.
But not all suppliers have good intentions in mind. In more sinister cases companies can sell the data to third party companies.
Last year, nearly 20,000 Visa, MasterCard and American Express card numbers were published on the Web, sparking fears over credit card fraud and identify theft. But a story such as this doesn’t mean you should avoid all offers, and there are some great ones to be had.
Genuine freebies do exist online, and the majority are from big name cosmetic and beauty giants like Olay, Nivea, and fragrance houses like Hugo and Coty. It is worth taking the time to investigate the numerous legitimate freebies out there on the Web, and you’ll save plenty of money in the process.
The following advice is suggested for avoiding dodgy Internet offers:
1) Be on the lookout for a Privacy Policy. This outlines how the company intends to use personal information.
2) If an offer looks too good to be true – avoid!
3) Reputable sites should always provide an ‘opt out’ feature for their e-mail newsletter mailings.
4) Beware of false advertising claims. ‘Free’ is not always what it seems and frequently there is a catch!
5) Sites advertising free iPods and PlayStations are not what they seem, and should be avoided.
6) Do the research and always read the small print - this will help you establish the validity of an offer.
7) Never be tempted to enter your credit card information to obtain a freebie since you may be unwittingly charged. Only make purchases from discounted suppliers attaining positive reviews.
8) Set up a secondary, free e-mail account from a company such as yahoo.com or hotmail.com, and use this to request freebies and other offers, rather than your personal or work account.
9) Ensure your computer is secured with a regularly updated anti-virus and anti-spyware program.