SWEEPSTAKES

Mailboxes nationwide are full of promises for cash prizes, but the IRS and the Better Business Bureau say the only cash that's being spent is by victims. A Missouri marketing firm, Precision Performance Marketing, sends sweepstakes letters that BBB officials say makes it look like those on the...

When Oprah gives you a new car, she doesn't ask you to pay for it. But that's what's happening in a new scam that has prompted the Illinois Attorney General's office to warn consumers. Unlucky callers who have been targeted are told they have won a new car in a sweepstakes sponsored by The Oprah...

Publishers Clearing House agreed to pay $3.5 million, not to a lucky prize winner, but to a collection of states that accused the marketing company of once again misleading consumers. A decade after the company, best known for its million-dollar sweepstakes, got itself in hot water for misleading...

The Oregon Attorney General is warning consumers not to fall for a sweepstakes letter that claims recipients have won $1.4 million and need to pay a small fee to claim their award. Oregon's Department of Justice has sent a letter to a New York company ordering it to stop mailing the fake notices...

McDonald's Monopoly game 2009 is being played at McDonald's restaurants around the globe and, like every year at this time, I find myself compelled to buy fries and soft drinks in an effort to hoard game pieces. Yet, this year, the joy of this annual endeavor seems to be fading. At one time, all...

Today we want to tell you about a new problem sweeping the nation, it's not the swine flu and it's not an addiction to Twilight books but something far more dangerous; IOS.What is this?Information Overload Syndrome is a condition affecting business people everywhere. It is, apprently, the result of...

Family Dollar has been in business for 50 years, and it's celebrating with the 50 Days of Giveaways contest. The chain will be giving away daily prizes that include cash, computers, Nintendo Wii game systems and more over seven weeks. Week one ends today. See the prize calendar for the details of...

A well-educated, normally astute consumer recently related a story of $160 in unexplained charges on his American Express Gold Card. He found himself on the hook for subscriptions to magazines -- published by American Express -- that he couldn't remember ordering.That's because he didn't -- or did...

I've always wanted to meet Liza Minnelli, and now the state of Virginia is offering me the chance to do so. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its tourism campaign "Virginia is for Lovers," the state is giving away 40 free trips in 40 weeks. Enter now because the first trip -- the two-night "Into...

Here's a contest that's short but sweet: Dollar General launched its "Fresh Start New Year" Sweepstakes on January 1st. The idea is to help you pay off some of those bills you accumulated in 2008. There is one Grand Prize of $100,000 in cash that you could use to pay off your mortgage or at least...