There are scores of legitimate, lucrative contests across the web and after spending hours googling the words “contest” and “sweepstakes”, you’ve found the ultimate contest. If your find seems too good to be true, it might be worthwhile to verify that your contest is legit. Spending a few moments to authenticate a sweepstake or contest will give you some peace of mind and ensure an enjoyable experience. Ready to authenticate? Let’s get started…

• Is there a published Privacy Policy? Legitimate contest sponsors want to reassure participants that provided personal information will not be used for secondary purposes or sold to other agencies.
• Are there clearly defined Rules and Regulations? Similar to a privacy policy, a legitimate sponsor will lay out the rules – mostly to protect themselves – and will explain the fine print, judging guidelines, and award procedures.
• Can you tell who’s sponsoring the contest? There should be an obvious sponsor of the contest; after all, a contest is basically a marketing campaign. If they don’t want you to know who they are, it might be better to search for another contest.
• Did they ask for confidential information? A reputable contest will not need a Social Security Number or any banking information.

Trust your gut! If you get a bad feeling, don’t follow through with the contest. Find another one that meets the above criteria and be on your way!