Business Consumer Alliance is warning consumers, in particular the Hispanic community, about a prize winning scam solicited by The Natural Lite. Consumers have reported receiving phone calls claiming they are the winner of $1,000 gift certificate or gift card that could be redeemed at retail stores and a chance to try out the company’s products. To receive the prize the consumer is required to pay a $139-149.00 insurance fee. Later consumers are contacted by company representatives, sometimes portraying themselves as attorneys, who threaten to sue the consumer for thousands of dollars because they did not accept the package or some other reason, and demand money be sent via wire transfer through Moneygram or Western Union. Some have claimed the gift certificate or card can only be used to purchase products from the company.
BCA warns consumers not to fall for the scheme. If you have truly won a prize, you should not have to pay any amount to receive it that includes delivery, insurance, processing or handling charges. If you are asked to pay for the prize, walk away from the offer. Also, be cautious of requests to send money by wire transfer. Most times scammers use this method of payment because it is virtually untraceable. It’s the same as handing someone cash.
Some other things to be mindful of are:
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Never provide your bank account or financial information to receive a prize or to anyone contacting you out of the blue.
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Don’t be deceived by letters that look official, marked urgent, or that claim to be from the government. Even receiving a prize notification letter by certified mail is not necessarily a guarantee that the notice is legitimate.
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Always check with BCA for a report on the business promoting the offer or making the solicitation. We have millions of company reports and can provide valuable tips on a variety of subjects. Be aware, though, that many questionable prize promotion companies do not stay in one place long enough to establish a track record and that an absence of complaints does not guarantee that the offer is legitimate.
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You can also find information on a promotion by doing an internet search using the company, promoter, or product name and terms like “complaint”, “scam”, or “reviews.
If you experience a problem with a promotion after participating, contact BCA for assistance with filing a complaint or writing a review about your experience as a warning to others.
Remember, your best clue to a scam is if you are required to pay anything up front.
Before you pay, check BCA!
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About Business Consumer Alliance
Business Consumer Alliance (BCA) is a non-profit company that started in 1928. The broad purpose of BCA is to promote business self-regulation. BCA's mission is achieved by assisting consumers in resolving complaints with businesses and using that complaint information, along with other relevant information such as customer reviews, to forecast business reliability. With community support, BCA can identify trustworthy and ethical businesses and warn the public to avoid unscrupulous businesses whose purpose is to defraud the marketplace. BCA also helps businesses promote themselves by providing services and tools to protect their business and reach out to their customers. BCA obtains its funding from member businesses who support the mission and purpose of the organization and who agree to abide by high standards of ethical business practices.