A couple of months ago, my husband and I entered a raffle for Publix gift cards and some other prizes. Now, two months later, I got a call and voicemail about it. I know this is probably a kind of scam, but I’m wondering—if we play it smart, don’t fall for the sales pitch, and refuse to buy a timeshare or whatever they’re selling—can we still get the prize?
I’ve read that some people went through the whole thing, didn’t buy anything, and actually got the prize at the end. I attached the voicemail and the email I got after confirming a time to go to the hotel. From what I understand, we’d just sit through the presentation, give them no more info than they already have, say “no” to everything, and hopefully get the prize. The presentation spot isn’t far from us (I saw some people had to drive over 300 miles), so at worst, we’d lose an afternoon. But maybe we’d still walk away with the prize? We’re even planning to bring our toddler to make it harder for them to keep us there if they start dragging things out (and who knows, maybe the screeching will help us leave faster).
One thing that concerns me is they say we need to show our driver’s license to park in their lot. I’ve read that it’s better not to give them anything like that, in case they copy it. I’m thinking we could just park nearby and walk instead.
Any advice or tips? I just want to see if there’s a way to actually get the prize without falling into their trap. A free vacation sounds pretty nice!
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The ‘mini vacation’ is likely worse than you expect. They’ll probably give you a voucher that covers a cheap motel and maybe some fees, but you’ll still pay for transportation, food, and activities. Many people spend over $1,000 to use their so-called ‘prize.’ If you attend, prepare for a hard sales pitch for their travel membership program (basically a timeshare).
Even if there’s technically a prize, it’s usually not worth it. Dates are super limited, fees pop up everywhere, and you’ll only get bottom-tier options unless you pay extra. Some people have shared stories about these prizes being ridiculous, like a hotel 5 hours away from the nearest airport just to make you spend more. Honestly, your time is worth more than this headache.
@Andie
They told me the prize includes an eight-day, seven-night resort getaway and a hotel stay with no blacklisted dates, no extra costs, and top-tier rooms. Too good to be true, huh?
This sounds like a setup for identity theft. Don’t give them any personal info. At best, you’ll walk out with something cheap like a low-quality knife set or a knockoff bag.
