Sweepstakes Home
Sweepstakes can be fun - but shouldn't
cost you money
Sweepstakes offers sweep savings
out the door
Sweepstakes 'scams' unveiled through
series
Daughters vent their frustrations
at sweepstakes
Another area person also believed
he was a winner
USPE responds to local customers'
complaints
Attorney General wants to better
the odds in sweepstakes
Sweepstakes victim goes public
Sweepstakes industry hits unlucky
streak
Psychology lures people into buying
Sweepstakes victim getting her
money back
Sweepstakes legislation may carry
local victim's name
Buying club complaints piling up
Here's the key: Think, call BBB
before you sign
NEWS-SUN, EVENING STAR
& HERALD-
REPUBLICAN
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A letter to The Evening
Star editor Dave Kurtz from Indiana Attorney General Jeffrey
Modisett:
Dear Mr. Kurtz:
I want to commend your newspaper for bringing to the attention
of its readers the deceptive practices used by the sweepstakes
industry to sell products.
Cindy Bevington's series of articles about sweepstakes focused
a bright light on the dark side of an industry many people had
tended to view as harmless, or at worst, an annoyance.
Ms. Bevington's articles described, among other things, how an
older woman spent her life savings in a quest to win millions
of dollars from a sweepstakes company that had convinced her
she was a sure winner.
As Ms. Bevington wrote in her article, all this woman had to
show for the money she had spent was a garage filled with junk.
The woman was quoted as saying, "if I lose the $3 million
they promised me, I have nothing. Nothing."
These articles aptly demonstrated that consumers, many of them
elderly, read the big, bold language declaring them a millionaire
winner, not understanding that the language in tiny print that
follows completely undercuts the "You're a Winner Message."
Whether spending a little or a life savings, consumers routinely
make purchases with the hope - and the expectation - of increasing
their chances of winning a huge prize.
Bevington's articles provided much needed insight for those people
who never enter a sweepstakes about the aggressive sales strategies
used on those who do enter. These strategies are designed to
push consumers into making purchase after purchase after purchase
in the hope that they will win a prize.
Indiana and other states are moving to curb abuses committed
by sweepstakes marketers. Consumers can also take steps to protect
themselves, if they have the right information. Ms. Bevington's
articles certainly provide a significant educational resource
for your readers.
As a result of Ms. Bevington's work, the woman she reported about
- Betty Weimer - agreed to testify about her situation at a national
sweepstakes hearing I chaired in Indianapolis in February, 1999.
Mrs. Weimer's story, as she related it, brought to life the injuries
she and others have suffered at the hands of unscrupulous sweepstakes
promoters. Mrs. Weimer was asked to appear on a national network
news television show to share her experiences.
Ms. Bevington's articles have helped focus attention on the abuses
committed by the sweepstakes marketers and solutions to curb
the deceptive practices that have harmed so many people.
For this she should be commended.
Sincerely,
Jeff Modisett, Indiana Attorney General
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STAR REPORTER'S
SWEEPSTAKES SERIES WINS NATIONAL AWARD
EXCLUSIVE TO THIS WEB SITE:
A letter to The Evening Star editor
from Indiana's Attorney General
Want to read another paper's stories
about sweepstake scams?
Why do the elderly seem more susceptible
to believing sweepstakes promises? Two experts give their opinions
Why do the elderly seem more susceptible
to believing sweepstakes promises? A gerontologist shares his
studies.
Iowa has seen it before
National issue, local example,
big news
Persons to contact if you believe you may be the victim
of a sweepstakes scam:
National Association of Attorneys
General
750 First Street, NE, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20002
PH: (202) 326-6000
FAX: (202) 408-7014
Office of Attorney
General
Steve Carter
402 W. Washington St.
Fifth Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204
PH: (317) 232-6201
FAX: (317) 232-7979
National Fraud Information Center 1-800-876-7060
National
Consumer's League
1-202-835-3323
Federal Trade Commission 1-877-382-4357
(toll free)
E-mail
Cindy Bevington
or Evening Star
editor Dave Kurtz.
WATCH FOR ADDITIONAL STORIES EXCLUSIVE TO THIS WEB SITE!
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