Sunday, February 14, 2010

Readers Digest Sweepstakes: A scam?

For those who live in Australia probably know about the Readers' Digest sweepstakes. Many people constantly receive letters about sweepstakes regularly and nobody seems to ever win. Is this a scam? I contacted Readers' Digest to find out. This is the reply I received:
Thank you for your enquiry regarding our Promotions and Sweepstakes, the following is an explanation of how it all works.

Every time we send you a Promotional offer for a product we include an opportunity to enter our Sweepstakes. This means that during the course of the Sweepstakes (from the open to the close date) you could receive multiple opportunities to enter the draw. Each opportunity is a stand alone entry in to the draw, so each time you return your entry you increase the total number of entries that you have in the draw.

The Sweepstakes is our way of saying thank you for taking the time to look at our promotional offer. In most instances you do not need to purchase to enter the draw; so if you decide that you do not want to purchase the advertised product all you need to do is return your entry in the "NO" envelope ("no" I don't want to buy but please enter me in the Sweepstakes) or follow the instructions on how to enter the draw only that are included in the promotional offer you received.

All Sweepstakes prizes are distributed by means of a draw, therefore, winners are not determined until after the draw has taken place. All entries returned by the closing date have a fair and equal chance of winning any of the prizes on offer.

Remember, in order to be in the draw you must return your entry!

The stages involved in getting into the Sweepstakes apply to every Promotion:

Stage 1: We select the names and addresses.
Stage 2: We mail the Promotion to you.
Final Stage: The Sweepstakes draw takes place.

Sweepstakes 99 opened on 23 December 2009, closes at midnight on 10 December 2010 and is drawn on 17 December 2010. Winners will be published on our web site Sweepstakes.com.au shortly after the draw.

We hope this has helped to explain our Sweepstakes to you. If there is anything further we can help you with you please contact us again or call us on 1300 300 030 (Australia) 0800 400 060 (NZ).

Thank you for being a Reader's Digest customer and good luck in the draw!


Kind Regards,

The Customer Service Team
So apparently, it is not a scam and you should return all the entry forms (which is quite a lot) to get the best opportunity in winning. Maybe, I am going to be the next millionaire.

4.3/5 as rated on goodreads.com

98 comments:

  1. likelihood is 1 in 6 million, not too bad for 15minutes of your time. do that 2 times a year, thats 1 in 3 million, 4 times = 1 in 1.5 million. Still unlikely, but all it costs is a postage stamp

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  2. early in april of this year i lost my husband to cancer, so can you amangine how i felt when i thought i had won a 20,000 quick draw, readers digest even suggest i tell my family, thank heavens i didn't, after sending all the stuff back, nothing , not even a sorry u didn't win, i was so sure i had won ,my heart was racing with excitment and i was thinking i could now pay his bills, readers digest, you are so cruel, doing this as you have know idea what takes place in your customers lives

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    1. That is horrible. Im so sorry for your loss and sorry that
      Someone can do something that rotten to someone. Dont
      worry God see everything we
      do good and bad. And that person is going to be punished in due time. God bless you

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    2. Fuck off with your god shit. He doesn't exist.

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    3. I don't believe in you so YOU don't exist :-P

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    4. I work in mysterious ways

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    5. I like to jerk off to my creation Taylor Swift

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    6. omfg dead AHAHAHAHA ^

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    7. I am somebody from other culture than Australian. In our Culture people it's rare to see people making by using the lies(scams). When Entered the Reader's digest competition i confronted with a group of specialist people in telling lies for just making money. I don't regret to much its normal sometime to take a risk. I am now learning from my mistakes , on other hand I have an idea of how people are making money in wrong ways. I am still asking what i can do to denounce such dishonest behavior. Whatever money you makes with out clear they will not give you a peace of mind. I wish they can change,

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    8. Nice thinking dear. You are good person.

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  3. im in confusion now whether it is a scam or the reality !!!......... n may i know when r the final results gonna come.....???

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  4. my mum receives these letters all the time and she's convinced that she's going to win the $450000 they said their going to give. You always have to send back these letters by sticking some key or gold sticker on an envelope. bijillion letters we get they're always like you're so close to winning, if you buy this you are closer to winning the prize etc.
    I don't think they're gonna give the money or any money. I think they're just scamming and it's annoying.

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  5. GUYZ THIS IS A SCAM. DONT DONT DONT DONT EVER EVER FALL FOR THIS. IF YOU RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL ASKING YOU TO FILL OUT ANY FORMS AND SEND BACK TO THEM, JUST THROW THE WHOLE LOT IN THE GARBAGE. IT"s NOT WORTH A SECOND OF YOUR TIME

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    Replies
    1. Better- fill up with old newspapers and have it returned back to sender.

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  6. hello, i receive the letter for the reader digest. I open it is a bill to pay for joining the sweeptakes. I ring the company i told them you are fraud. You do sending the magasine says is for free. And they charge for everything. I said to them i would not paying anything for you or give my personal details even my credit card or bank account. i said go to hell

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  7. they scam you into giving your addy and then start sending magazines.bingo they made money already

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  8. That competition is the BIGGEST scam you could possibly imagine. They con you with subscriptions as it's the only you can enter the sweepstakes. And then they hold the draw pick a winner and send you information that you're still in the "Grand Prize Draw" and that you are still in running to win even after the dice has fallen....while at the same time holding you at gunpoint to subscribe for things you wouldn't read and stuff you don't even need....even after the draw is drawn. They are an absolute DISGRACE!!! By doing that, they're in breach of just about every gaming regulation in the book. The latest Grand Prize Winner wasn't even Australian he was a kiwi and that's not Australia it's a separate country.

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    Replies
    1. Its open to Australians and New Zealanders so not sure what you are saying. Just don't enter simple.

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  9. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a scam! They sent me things that I did not ask for and then had the audacity to ask me to pay for them.

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  10. I just recived a bill for $80.00 and 6 more
    chances to win after what i'v read hear I think I'll have bet on a horse insted

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  11. Anyone out there ever won anything from this
    mob. The con has been going for 30+ years and they'v broken a lot of harts in that time
    how many dream have come true?????

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  12. hello is scam, im from Mexico, for the last 5 years i buy anything, i give 6 free subscriptions, and nothing,,, and next simple guy 18 years old, win the 44 sorteo!!!

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  13. I've received one of these before that was legitimate.

    If they're not asking you to pay, wire money, provide bank details etc, it's not scam. Scam being a dishonest attempt to defraud you of money.

    However, they will require you to subscribe to a publication you may not have otherwise bought, and either way, they'll hound you for all eternity as a potential sales lead, and possibly sell your details to other direct marketers.

    Remember the old adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

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  14. Somehow they got my address and know my name but I've never signed up to anything so not sure what's on??

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  15. Anonymous April 20 2013 8:00pm.

    I have read most of the comments and tend to agree with some of what has been said. Of cause they are going to send you stuff to try and intice you to buy their goods by sending you entries into their sweepstakes, It's the same with lotto, we buy an entry to try and win thousands or even millions every week hoping that we could be the next big winner and the odds for that is also the same. With readers digest I find myself receiving mail and sweepstakes and sometimes I buy their goods but there are also times when I don't buy stuff but still fill out the sweepstakes and send them back. .It is really up to each individual whether or not they want to receive anything from readers digest and whether they want to send in the sweepstake entries. As for myself, I like to think that maybe one day,just maybe I could become one of the lucky ones. I understand what the odds are but it's my choice. I do know of someone who won a substantial amount of money and who was a long time subscriber and she was also in the same frame of mind, you never know. Lastly I would just like to add I find a lot of what they have to offer really great stuff because they offer great tips good reads and free sweepstakes.

    Reply







    i

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    1. sounds like you work for Reader Digest

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    2. I am with you for shure

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    3. The positive posts are by R.D. staff, it is only just legal.

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  16. It's all Scam guys do not trust them unless you happy to broke your heart.

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  17. It is a well organised scam. I received a registered letter from them about 3 weeks ago and told me that I had won the Luck Number Giveaway including some congratulation words etc and let me wait for the second letter including important documents. Three days later, I got the second registered letter including a Yellow Winner Pass with 6 numbers on and one was circled.The letter said that I was the winner and they would issue a check within 72 hours as long as I returned the Winner Pass in the prepaid envelope with 7 days. They also attached a big envelope with some sale materials for so calld more entry previledge to many other grand prize as long as I Say "yes" and return as well,including 3 people's authorization letter with their pictures on. The chairman is A.Maddock. Everything looks very real. There is no pie from sky and I returned that Winner Pass only and nothing after that. Instead, they started to send me sale material via email and try to ask me to say "yes" to their rubbish.I mark the email from them as rubbish email already.

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  18. It is a total scam here in New Zealand...I just sent back an unsolicited product (a worthless radio cassette deck) that Readers Digest sent to my front door after I sent back all the forms in the first lot of mail they sent me...they expected me to buy this unsolicited product, giving my credit card details...Immediately, the alarm bells began ringing for me!!! I phoned them immediately and told them what I thought of them! Needless to say, I sent the worthless product they forwarded to me straight back by free post!

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  19. I wish Readers Digest would go away. I've had enough of them after all these years. I, too have been very excited over the years and fell for it. They make you feel like you are the only one they have chosen in the world to win the sweepstakes. Does Readers Digest really expect people in general to believe in this after all these years of trying and hoping? Yes, it is extremly cruel. Especially for the very vunerable in our society. "Once Bitten Twice Shy" thats my new motto about everything these days.

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  20. This is Just Scam. I have been ringing readers digest last3 years to get a reply.
    just disgusting.

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  21. so I am not in the 2% of Australians guaranteed to win, but they said they would pick me up in a chauffeured driven car, whisk me away to the closest airport, meet me at Sydney airport and wine and dine me, stay at a 5 star hotel and then present me with a cheque the next day.

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  22. Steve,
    I am one of the lucky winners, I received a check for $450,000 and I brought nothing from them. it changed our life's for ever.

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    1. i just received letter from them saying i had won sweepstakes, they sent me check to deposit in my account to cover ins for amt of check to be delivered and i am to call them once deposit made, They never asked for any personal information and says when ins needs their money i can send money order or money gram, is that how your worked?

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    2. Yeah right. And it is lives, not life's! Only people who tick or click on YES can win.

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    3. Not even Steven. You probably work for them.

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  23. REally, Steve so what are your contact details so we can all check out you are for real

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  24. Thanks for all this info re Reader's Digest. I have been bombarded and receving mails from them how to win cash prizes etc, don't know where they got my name and address. Never ordered anything and one day I received a radio by courier. Now they are sending me invoices and letters demanding payment for this radio. I called their office in Auckland to stop sending me stuffs, but still they're still sending me invoices to pay for the radio. Today I received a thick reading book from them, and never ordered it. Surely, they will be sending an invoice for it soon. I am thinking of contacting Fair Go as I do not want RD to refer my name to the Debt Collectors for things I never oredred.

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  25. Wait. A minute. So you guys got ur mail before me. Outrage. Kum on $500,000 yeah baby ok ladies & gents you's don't enter so I can win it. I'm entering. Positive, Positive, Positive. Guna WiN iT. Peace ya'll
    L 2Tha Eye N. X

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  26. Iv just rang up 2 enter

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  27. Is that you Joni??
    How did you really call up 2 enter?
    People be good to one another.
    You can vent to me email me I will listen.

    Tinkerbell14072008@gmail.com

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  28. I once had a puppy not anymore it was small & fluffy wait. I just gotta go to the toilet. Ill be back

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  29. Oh I miss miss my puppy

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  30. Lance kisses Peters balls. Brooke Mohi

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  31. It may not be a complete scam but their presentation is incredibly annoying. Why should we play childish games like attaching stickers to their correct spot as our response. It absolutely seems ludicrous. I don't like the glossy presentation making it look as if you are a winner or have a high chance of winning. As has been mentioned the odds are extremely low and you are not just one of the few selected to enter the draw. Having said that I might just send a response off but I might be sorry perhaps it may need to more rubbish mail!!

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  32. they make too much money,,,guess how.. pretty much how everyone has written above...yep all bull aye

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  33. What a terrible waste of paper, becomes land fill, poor trees.

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  34. Of course this is a waste of time. I started entering when I was around 18 which was back in 1989 and didn't stop until a few years ago because I found out that they only enter those who have ticked/or clicked YES on the entry form. They throw away or delete all those who clicked and ticked NO. So if you are even thinking of entering this scam competition, DON'T!

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  35. Oh and even though I thought I stopped them from sending emails and crap through snail mail. I still get them from time to time.

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  36. I have spent quite a bit in purchasing offers from them hoping i may get a win.but no luck,

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  37. I'm glad I read these comments I can throw the RD crap I received in the rubbish

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    1. I have been thinking the same and have lost any faith in Readers Digest sweepstake correspondence--It is one word away from being deceitfully full of promise for lifechanging prize to come to me as long as i follow their instructions and return within 7 days. What a waste of PO stamps plus waste of my time and effort.

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  38. Yep, complete rubbish! Another good indicator is trying the website they quote. Bet ya the site is not recognised.

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    Replies
    1. Yep - I got an "entry" into rush for riches in my Readers Digest magazine but can't get intothe quoted web site. Once before that happened and I contacted RD by email - they told me it was a fault of my computer as the web site was there!!

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  39. It is very hard for one to expect these type of act from a renowned company like Reader's Digest. One time their books & mazing use to be very good for general knowledge and child brain development. But now, God knows who's idea is this. Very poor and cheap ideas for achieving sales promotion. Every body these days do some thing to achieve sales target but never seen the way Reader Digest is doing. It is not only in Australia, these system is all over the world. It would be better if they can regain their old image. Wasting so much of paper for no real cause ultimately is causing damage to the environment and trees and also the printing using lots of colour causing pollution. some time their golden prize sticker are very hard for natural melting.
    Thanks

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  40. been playing tatts 3 times a week for 26 years once won bout $1800 18 yrs ago reading your comments i think tatts is a better option oh! same numbers too

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  41. 100% Scam , i am just concern that where did they got my name and address

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    Replies
    1. These days unfortunately, there are 100's if not 1000's of databases out in cyberland with our details on it. Companies can buy these databases and then annoy you..

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  42. I GOT CONED EARLY THIS YEAR DOIN IT HARD TRYING TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE SPENT THE 500 DOLLARS ON HER WOULD HAVE GOT A KISS AND A CUDDLE GOT JACK SH!!!!! FROM READERS DIGEST

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  43. I truly believe it is a major scam. once they have your address they keep sending stuff you didn't even order and bill you while they are at it! I paid for a book I has already received last year and this year they send me the same book with the bill. I promptly send it back coz I already have an exact one and I have no intention of paying for something I never order. What a shame, Readers Digest to come this low to sell your stuff. Is that how cheap you have become??

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  44. I entered and I won $450,000. I don't know why you all are so skeptical.
    Sincerely,
    A.Maddock

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    Replies
    1. Hello "A Maddock".
      Aren't you the Manager/Controller
      of the Reader's Digest Sweepstakes ???

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    2. Pretty sure it's not A. Maddock, but just some internet troll.

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    3. I think that A MADDOCK IS PRONOUNCED MADCOCK. it has to be if he thinks we believe him

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    4. I have been returning all entries via email for 2 yrs. Am dissapointed and unsure what to think of this email as a maddock is signed as manager 😕

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  45. It is a scam, threatening pensioner out of their payments, and they have admitted under to the ACCC of misconduct.

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  46. A.MADDOCK
    Are you able to prove to us skeptics you had actually won?? Show us something? Anything even the letter stating this? Ofcourse we all know what a winning letter comes with for those of us who are familiar with what should be stated and Have on these kind of letters. You can't seriously blame us for being skeptics either as these sort of scans are happening everyday to people with some having a detrimental affect on people's lives! So if you can prove to us in some way you had won please do so as we would all greatly appreciate it because by doing so you would answer what we have all wondered for many years.

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    Replies
    1. This A Maddock is an employee of
      Reader's Digest !
      She is the OIC of Sweepstakes & Contests !






      Delete
  47. I'm always receiving emails that I've won prize money whether from here or outside Australia. I hate how people play with other people's hopes and lives like that. I've learnt something in life, and that is work towards your goal, that way you'll appreciate every second of it once achieved.
    everyone out there! This is a scam 100%. They say its free yet again what are these promotions they're offering us?? Dah! Nothing is for free in life!

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  48. Yeah I won $250,000. I bought every piece of shit they ever offered/sent me since 1989... remarkably I spent $250,000 ;-) I was regifting that garbage for over 20 years & it saved me a fortune on xmas/birthday/wedding gifts! Mind you, I did lose all my friends in the process... cassette radios just are'nt as popular as they used to be... just like Readers Digest.

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  49. its no use talking about it , if anyone can find out where these scumbags work or live a visit could be organized and it would end their scams and hopefully their ability to get around without a wheelchair and a full time nurse

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  50. Most of the gifts I buy from Readers Digest. On the occasion when I have ordered in error, there is no problem in returning free post with the details supplied by a phone call.

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  51. I would like to know please, is it true, when you have won a large amount of money from readers digest, do you have to go to Australia from New Zealand to pick the winnings up and you cant bring that money out of Australia, also, if you have got a criminal record you cant claim that winning.
    Does any one know please.

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    Replies
    1. Yup, if you win $10,000 or more you have to go to Sydney and attend the annual sweepstake event, but you can bring the money back to New Zealand (I mean, it would just be transferred to your bank account). Not too sure about the criminal records thing though, they publish your name and face on their website.

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  52. these scumbags recently just sent me an envelope with a fcuking fake car key.. desperate idiots

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  53. Listen people don't stoop to their level ! Don't attack them or anything like that !( it's not worth it !) get them back legally ! Everyone complain to its parent owner in the U.S.A about how these assholes never honour their words ! Also dob them in to the ACCC or the office of Fair trading ! That will sort em !

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  54. Received the sweepstakes...off to the rubbish bin :)

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  55. ���� My husband has been faithfully replying to these scams for months now and has ordered all these stuff that could of been bought in the stores for a cheaper price. He gave his card details and it is surprising to see how much they take from it smh... His hopes are up that he could win $500,000 and a car and whatever else is advertised. I thought because it was "readers digest" he could stand a chance because it was a legit company ..turns out it's a scam? That's low readers digest! You should be ashamed of yourselves for fooling people to subscribe to your magazines! I am so letting him read these comments to see how it is a scam and it was not only him that was fooled... smh

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  56. I hope it's not a scam. I just returned the YES envelope and now have to wait a year and a half to see whether I have "won".
    If I do win I will come back to this forum and let ya's all know

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  57. ok, firstly the answer to some ppls questions, A, how did they get my name and address, simple, when you filled out the cenus (run by aus gov), marketing companys can buy some info, i.e name age address, this in turn slow gets filtered around to even them phone calls you get at 6pm from mubui asking to speak to mr x.
    Secondly feel its a scam, I have sent one back from my last addy, got to the last 16 then zip (didnt buy anything btw).
    If you want to enter feel free, just use a web based email, so you can filter any spam without overloading ur email with other offers, plus dont take up any offers.

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  58. If your not a relative, your not going to win anything

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  59. All you will probably ever get is to buy their books ! That $200,000/- prize is simply way out of reach. My relations, Syed Nasution, Abas MkTendu, Rosli Hamid and Muhibah Jones all work for Readers Digest and NEVER won 5 cents !! A pain in the arse !

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  60. my name is judy earl lve been a readerdigest readers for about 6 years and lve won nothing came the day when ay body wins a prize from readers digest its a scam lve falked out a lot of money for nothing if l was to ask for the money back l woulded get it back

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  61. I knew someone who had got one of those 'Have won 450,000. She was struggling to bring up her family, and was having trouble with the bank. On the day she received the letter, she truly believed she had won and went to the bank and told them to get stuff...well!!! it never did come and she won nothing, she was so vulnerable to their scamming ways and it was sad seeing her crash and burn because she had told everyone how much she had won...people wanted to know her there and then and then dumped her backside when they found out she had received nothing...sad one Readers Digest.

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    Replies
    1. Honestly, the lottery should be banned! And all forms of gambling... Pretty sure most intelligent people don't gamble.

      Delete
  62. Wish I had read this prior to entering their contests and giving them my addy, phone and that....damn..another victim perhaps oh dear...

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  63. maybe some of you ought to subscribe to the rd mag if only to improve yr goddamn spelling!!

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  64. aside from that one issue, I agree that rd are bullshitters of the highest order!

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  65. aside from that one issue, I agree that rd are bullshitters of the highest order!

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  66. if it sounds too good to be true then it is not

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  67. I only enter the competitions through their website and never had to spend any money... 'm pretty sure they do give out the cash prizes, since there are pictures of the winners on the website for their annual sweepstakes and also all their names. The process of entering is pretty annoying though, with so many ads. I just can't imagine such a big company scamming people though.

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  68. I think readers digest should pay everyone that they conned there money back. I get a lot of mail from them and yes I did enter it thinking I would win. I'm not doing that now. they stoop low enough to con people who could actually use that money for things they really need and instead sell them a lot of useless crap for way higher than what you pay in shops

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  69. We offer financial assistance services to all individuals around the world.

    Please, contact us if you are in need:
    E-mail: info@creditfinance-bank.com
    Whatsapp number: 33784505888
    Website: https://www.creditfinance-bank.com

    ReplyDelete
  70. They are fucking scammer in a legal way.

    ReplyDelete