It's from Beta Panel, which I don't remember joining but when I went there, I was a member. So it must've been a few months ago. Also, I take a lot of surveys that are hosting by places I am a member of but the surveys are from other firms.
Anyway, the email asked me to confirm my information or correct it. Everything was correct but my house number, which had an extra digit in it. Since I fill out info when I join and I have an auto-fill with all the correct information, I was suspicious. The email checks out when I go to the website but I'm almost afraid to reply. (There was no info but my name and address, btw)
Has this ever happened to you? If so, did it turn out to be legitimate? What do you think I should do with this? I hate to let $100 go but I surely don't want my identity compromised.
[question posted by dragon54u]
responses and comments:
I would google the name of the company and read up about it. If it is a scam usually by googling it you can find out. If you are still unsure I would contact the direct email for the named company to find out if they sent it. [Skyeblue25]
Thanks, skyeblue25! I am thinking about emailing the main contact for the company today. The person the email was from is listed there but I can't think how that extra number got into my address--otherwise it all looks above board. That's so often the case with these things, just one tiny thing is wrong to alert you to a scam. sad [dragon54u]
always ignore spam emails! They can be either good or bad but you never know which on is which. You might get a letter saying you won $50 and one letter saying $1000. Well in this case it's obvious which one is a scam: $1000. But the other one can be a scam as well always check who it is from, and do a background check on google by simply tiping the email adress or the name of the company included in the letter. Be careful. Never give out your TRUE IDENTITY. For example: AlertPay is a big ****** because it asks for identity WITH a photo of you! that is stupid! why would they need a photo of you? they couldn't check that anywhere how you look like!! its a big scam and wants all your personal details and then you can transfer your money but pay their really high fees. can you imagine how easy it is for them to create a fake ID after you posted your passport or driving license on their site (yes they do ask for it)? anyway best of luck [munyosz]
most of mails like this are spams b careful [cybercop]
hi dragon 54u I would snopes it, take it to snopes as Ihad somthing similar happen to me, I was supposed to have won fifty dollars from a panel I joined and I did not think I joined, sure enough my name was on there but the apartment address number was off by a digit, I went ahead and let them send me the check,okay took it to the manager of my bank,and yes it was bogus. should have known when the apartment number was off by a digit. I snoped it and this scam had been around for awhile. [Hatley]
Wikipedia is a good place to look, also. Has user input and usually has very good answers for random things. [mzz663]
ha all that are just scam,waste of time if you read that.i suggest you to not even open such email may be that will be spyware or virus,it will harm your computer.so please don't go for such messages. you won $1000,000 this much and that much all are just scam and nothing more than that.not even waste time to search on google or contact them. [rehan_andaman]
It was one hundred dollars, an amount I really would like to have but not enough to make me take a chance on replying. I did email the parent company a few minutes ago to ask them about it because as far as I can tell they are legitimate and so is the person who "signed" the email. But I don't want it badly enough to give anyone my address, which they should know by the membership I filled out. I don't remember joining that panel, though. I guess that's a tip off right there. I've joined so many,though, and done just one survey before not going back, that there's a small chance it might be true. Thanks for your advice! [dragon54u]
Does the site have a winners list? Is your name on it? Do they have a phone number you could call? I'd be sending an email asking for some sort of verification. Why wouldn't they just put this money in a paypal account or something? why do they need your address. I would be checking for a lot of things out before I give the info they want. I don't give anyone info unless I get a hold of them first, whether it's online or by phone. One thing I've noticed, especially on facebook, myspace and yahoo is that they say not to reset a password or even enter one unless you are absolutely sure that you're on their site with the http:// at the beginning of the web address. I'd be cautious with this, especially after you had to reset the password and something was wrong with your address. [mzz663]
It looks legit, the site has the http://, a phone number, contact email, etc. The person the email comes from really does work for them according to their site. It bothers me, though. So I asked people here. Isn't it a shame we have to be so suspicious? I might give them a call in the morning. [dragon54u]
It's not recommended to distribute your address to them. If you did signup, they should have your address. Maybe, contact the company, before doing anything. If you're afraid of replying, don't. There's no risk in replying, but only if you don't give your address. Good Luck with this! And hope you'll get your $100. :D [crystallight1l]
Thank you, Crystallight! I've decided that I will call them in the morning. The call is free-I pay nothing for long distance-and maybe I can put this to rest. We can never be too careful! [dragon54u]
there's alot of them emails circulating these days, be very careful, if i wee you i would contact them and send the email and ask them if this is true or not, i have had lots of "you've won" emails before and not one of them were genuine, just another scam circulating, but i would never give out my info unless i knew it was for real... [puddytatt]
yeah it's best if you call them and make sure that this is for real...best to be safe than sorry i think....that's what i would do just to be on the safe side. [puddytatt]
They should have all of your information from when you join the website. If the address is not right then I would just delete the email. It is though up to you to decide what you want to do. [happy6162]
I'm going to call the number listed. That should clear things up, I think. [dragon54u]
I hate to say this, but if it's from the email, most probably it is a spam. But then, you can play safe and search it on the search engine. Never give out your personal opinion unless you are super sure. But if it were me, I'd never give out any personal particulars. And something too good to be true, that is also a wonder. If someone wants to give me $100, it's perhaps due to my participation on writing sites or for a work which I have done. And I mean something like many people have been receiving like from mylot; the earnings, I mean. You were right to let the $100 go... I guess your instinct gave it away.. [zed_k4]
I agree; it's better to call and find out. All the best..hopefully there's good news.. [zed_k4]
lots of good advice from the other mylotters! Things I would never of thought of especially the http:// thing. But one thing that wasn't mentioned what was their intention of payment? by check? if you do actually recieve the check and you are not a 100% certain make sure you have your bank call to verify funds on the account. I would be also a little suspicious of it to.... As I get plenty of spam asking me what to do w/ my inheritance or my accounts at a bank I don't do any business with.... If they have your name & address fine. But if they start asking for banking information it's truly a scam. I hope it's legit! Especially this time of year between holiday expenses and heating bills comming up it would be a nice surprise. happy [3SnuggleBunnies]
It may well be legit. I'm a member of so many survey sites but I've mostly quit doing the ones who offer only sweepstakes entries. This may be one of them. I'm calling the number on their site today, which appears to be professional and legitimate, and check them out with the BBB. You're right, this winter I will probably be able to use that money but for now it would go into the savings account! If I decide it's safe, of course. [dragon54u]
happyBe careful with these kind of scams. You might end up losing money too. There are many scams nowadays and you have to meticulously identify which one is legit and which one is not. Have a good day.happy [dorisday1971]
Thank you, Doris. I'm going to call them today and confirm their legitimacy. [dragon54u]
I received an email yesterday saying that I won 100$ from LegerMarketing.....I do have an account with their panel and I do do surveys with them all the time. I did some research and went to their site where my name is on their winners list so to me it did not look like a scam....but now Im wondering if these emails are going around to everyone under different names.....I tend to think not but you never know.... [angemac23]
I don't see a winner's list on their site. I looked and used the search feature but I can't find a list. That's why I wonder! [dragon54u]
never ever fall into the traps of these scamsters. they are out there to rip you off. I receive such mails every day. its coming in the name of many reputed global giants. but when you look at the email id, one can find out the truth about them. now i have started receiving it by SMS. just ignore such mails. [tulipstrader]
They'll do anything, won't they? They are so inventive--if they would channel their energies to honest things they would probably be very rich! [dragon54u]
i have received lots of email like that some telling me to claim the money on the bank and share the money with the email sender. some from other sites promoting something and etc. if i claimed all those money from all those email i have received before i surely be a billionaire by now. LOL. but i don't trust those sites that ask for my identity and for other personal details. i may end up losing my hard earned money that gain any thing. [hotsummer]
That's something that I'd never fall for, sharing the money with someone else or logging onto a bank site. Sadly, I don't trust anyone. My bank sent me an email last week and I called them--turned out they did send the email. You never know who to trust so I trust nobody. sad [dragon54u]
I usually get those emails but I often disregard them. I know $100 sounds tempting but the damage could be a lot more than $100 if your personal information were to be misused. I suggest you conduct further due diligence before you proceed further. [rg0205]
I did some more research and then called them. They are in New York, have a street address and I spoke with them. He read my address from their records correctly, he apologized for his typo. So by all intents and purposes it is legitimate! I'll take it to the bank just in case and have them check it out. This is a nice ending to me week! happy [dragon54u]
years ago I received an e-mail claiming to be from eBay stating that I needed to update my personal information. I made a mistake and did so which allowed someone to steal my account and post fake auctions in my name. Now I know that with eBay, if there is a problem with my account, they will let me know when I ry to access the site. If you don't remember signing up for Beta Panel, I would be suspicious. You should google the name adding the word scam in your search. This should call up any websites with complaints against them. It's possible that that you signed up through another website or they could be a new name for an old website. Earning a reward for doing nothing, however, makes me suspicious. I have been doing surveys in the US and don't remember hearing about Beta Panel. They may still be a real website but I would go by how many complaints there may be of scams. Also I would NOT use any link in the email they sent you because that could be leading you to a mock website for a real site where someone is trying to steal your ID. That's what happened to me with my eBay account. [burrito88]
I get those eBay mailings all the time and thank goodness I didn't have to find out the hard way like you did! There are so many dishonest people--they are so creative with their scams. Can you imagine how much money they could make if they would use their creativity honestly?! They'd be millionaires! It did turn out legitimate! happy I called the company after checking them out and spoke to several different people there. I will have the bank check to see if the funds are good when I get it, just to be double sure. I'm very exciting to be able to add it to my savings account! happy Thank you for your advice, though. I do a lot of surveys and every bit of knowledge we share is good for us. [dragon54u]
Hi there, dragon54u... Just recently saw this topic of yours and read thru all of the comments and your replies. Wanted to add my own two cents worth to tell you that I "thought" the Beta Panel WAS indeed a real survey place/site. The name sounded very familiar, so I checked my saved survey stuff e-mails, and found some from their company. I used to use another way to get online before I was given my present computer for a gift and had saved links from them, so I could re-update my addy and info for their surveys - which I never did. But now that I read someone/you, actually won something from their site... I just might update my info with them. *lol* I also take a lot of surveys. And yep, just like you said lots of them are from other firms and some of those re-directs take such a way LONG time at times!! *lol* Glad you checked into this and found out that it was/is and most prob'ly is legit. Best to be careful though. Better safe than sorry!! *smile*... So since you found out that the e-mail WAS for real... I'll just say congrats, girl!! Glad you won. I had also found out the name of their company Beta Research, etc, but since you don't need that info now I'll save my bandwidth and apply it towards re-updating my info @ Beta Research, if I am even still in their data base. *lol* ... You asked in your original post if anything like this ever happened to you. Yes, in my case it did. Earlier this year in February I received an e-mail from a place that did surveys about Hair Care and stuff, their surveys were SO boring! Even only did them just to get them out of my inbox! *L* And I thought... WHAT?!? Wasn't sure about them either... and they asked for me to send or Fax a copy of my signature to them. I thought... hmmmm... They even had no real website, but were a "real" panel. Googled 'em... checked them out and they DID turn out to be legit. I was SO blessed to actually "win" a prize of $150.00. (Not trying to outdo your winnings!) *smile*)... And I was really spoiled/lucky because even tho' I do have fax/printer... did not have it hooked up and my brother who so kindly gave it to me was sweet and kind to help me get and send my siggie to them. Because just like you, I could SO use that prize! Once again, dragon54u, Many congrats on your winnings/earnings. Forgive me for writing so much. Bad habit of mine at times. Have seen your name here before. By the way, nice to meet you. I am also in Ohio, maybe even real close to you, as I live in Fairborn. Perhaps we could even swap survey sites and share some with each other, but not for referrals and such. Would like to befriend you here @myLot, if that's okay with you... bcuz one can never have too many friends, either real time or virtual time, especially at this time of the year. Take good care, firefox333 [firefox333]
Hey there, again... Good to have heard back from you. Sorry I didn't write back sooner, but I tend to do more reading than replying here. Don't know why. Congrats again on your winnings. Hope you have gotten them by now or will get them soon. I also only do surveys for the money (or point thingies, to convert into cash)... There are some times when I get so bored or disgusted or whatever with "some" surveys... that I just can't help but think... why don't ya just go get a job "thingie".. *lol*... as I also am currently unemployed. But occasionally some of the places I do surveys for also send product samples to test. Those are kind of fun too. If you want, I could maybe let you know of some of those places, if you aren't already aware of them. *smile*... Hope you find a job soon, if you really are looking, etc. I would look harder, but don't drive and it's hard. So I do surveys... and stuff online. Glad you accepted my friend request, because yes, we do live close to each other. Fairborn is okay I guess, have lived here since '95. My hubby died unexpectedly in '97 & I have just sorta stayed where I am. Am a Leo & a creature of habit, so to speak. Where were you from before you moved? I was from Kettering, not too far away, but we don't have buses here & that sorta is crummy since I have never had a license. *little pout*... Especially at THIS time of year. But oh well... what the h... heck, ya know?!? *smile*... Oh and by the way, about mysurvey & lightspeedpanel... good for you dragonlady. I am a member of both of their panels and have been so for quite a long time... especially mysurvey. But shoot, I have not had a survey from either of them since way earlier this year. Maybe 'cuz I have been in their database for so long? *lol* - sorta? First survey place I think I became a member of, was a good run tho' - earned quite a few dollars & tested some products. But now I have 455 points in mysurvey, and it doesn't look like I'll be cashing out anytime soon with them. Oh well. What else can I say? Except to mention that I'm glad we're friends here at myLot, hope to keep in touch. Feel free to PM me anytime if ever you want. And by the way... so glad that YOU like snow. It's pretty the first time of the season I suppose, but I am so much a warmer weather type of person. Take Care, firefox333 [firefox333]