Thanks, administrator, for activating my account so quickly. And Hi, everyone.
I'd be interested in peoples' opinions on a site my girlfriend found, http://www.celebritywin.com. It's had us going mad for the last 3 days. You answer a load of easy questions and then get to see a pair of eyes apparently belonging to a "celebrity". (http://www.celebritywin.com/final.html takes you straight to the mystery eyes page). And the first person to text in the celebrity's name gets 10 grand.
Sounds too good to be true, and we're trying to work out what the catch is. We thought we knew who it was but we texted in the answer and got a reply saying it was wrong.
Is anyone clued up about these text message competitions? Could it be a scam do you reckon? Something about the site seems a bit dodgy, or maybe I just find it hard to believe they'd hand out 10 grand to someone. I ran a whois search on the domain name and it's registered to a French sounding bloke in London who seems to have no connection with the off-the-shelf-sounding name of the company (Are People Ltd) and dubious mailbox address given on the site.
(I wouldn't bother calling the premium rate number – you have to listen to over a minute of waffle at £1.50/minute until you get to hear about six words of the celebrity talking in quite an indistinct accent.)
Is this competition site dodgy...
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Gavin Scott
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From the website:
Terms and conditions: Calls are charged at £1.50 per minute. Mobile charges vary - check with network operator before calling. Each text guess is charged at 25p + standard network rate. You must be 16+ to enter and have the bill payer's permission. Prize 1 x £10,000 cash award to the first correct text entrant. This is an independent promotion, not connected to any publication or tv show. Winner will receive prize within 28 days of confirmation. All winners must agree to take part in publicity. Promoter: Are People Ltd, BCM Phone Box 100156, WC1N 3XX. Once a mystery personality has been identified, there may be a short period before a new voice comes on line. If you phone during this period you can claima full refund by sending your phone bill by recorded delivery to Are People Ltd. For a list of winners and answers see http://www.competitionrules.co.uk or send sae to Are People ltd.
There's Big Ron, looking wretched. But he would never do or say anything dodgy.
Oh no.
Terms and conditions: Calls are charged at £1.50 per minute. Mobile charges vary - check with network operator before calling. Each text guess is charged at 25p + standard network rate. You must be 16+ to enter and have the bill payer's permission. Prize 1 x £10,000 cash award to the first correct text entrant. This is an independent promotion, not connected to any publication or tv show. Winner will receive prize within 28 days of confirmation. All winners must agree to take part in publicity. Promoter: Are People Ltd, BCM Phone Box 100156, WC1N 3XX. Once a mystery personality has been identified, there may be a short period before a new voice comes on line. If you phone during this period you can claima full refund by sending your phone bill by recorded delivery to Are People Ltd. For a list of winners and answers see http://www.competitionrules.co.uk or send sae to Are People ltd.
There's Big Ron, looking wretched. But he would never do or say anything dodgy.
Oh no.
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Gavin Scott
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He doesn't look at all well either. Perhaps Ron peppered that end of the cheque with anthrax?
Also take a look at those fingers on the cheque, is it just me, or do they look a bit, well, girly?DAS wrote:I'm just thinking that bloke doesn't look like a Hannah to me. His parents clearly liked being different.
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Gavin Scott
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I think there's a triffid creeping up from behind that cheque.
I've been doing my Columbo bit on this competition, and a few things just don't seem right.
According to the Companies House database, the company behind it, "Are People Ltd" didn't exist until 24 September 2003 – yet they claim to have given away their first prize of £10,000 in June 2003.
And whoever is behind this company is clearly a bit shy – the company's address on the site is an anonymous mailbox and the address he gave to Companies House is actually his accountant's address. Nothing illegal about that, but you do wonder why he won't give his real address.
All sounds like one of those cases Esther Rantzen used to investigate on That's Life.
The whole thing reminds me of when I worked for an advertising agency and we were promoting the opening weekend of a new car dealership in the area. To draw publicity the dealership was raffling off a brand new Nissan Micra. Later my boss, who handled the account, confided in me that the person who won the Micra was the manager's brother-in-law who gave them a grand for fixing it.
According to the Companies House database, the company behind it, "Are People Ltd" didn't exist until 24 September 2003 – yet they claim to have given away their first prize of £10,000 in June 2003.
And whoever is behind this company is clearly a bit shy – the company's address on the site is an anonymous mailbox and the address he gave to Companies House is actually his accountant's address. Nothing illegal about that, but you do wonder why he won't give his real address.
All sounds like one of those cases Esther Rantzen used to investigate on That's Life.
The whole thing reminds me of when I worked for an advertising agency and we were promoting the opening weekend of a new car dealership in the area. To draw publicity the dealership was raffling off a brand new Nissan Micra. Later my boss, who handled the account, confided in me that the person who won the Micra was the manager's brother-in-law who gave them a grand for fixing it.
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Gavin Scott
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Interesting. When I saw the date on the cheque, it occurred to me that a year since the last draw would be a reasonable length of time to swell the coffers to the tune of at least £10K (at a £1.50 per minute premium rate phone entry).
Add to that a fee for Big Ron (£5k?), the webspace and other overheads and at least a 50% margin (but I expect nearer 100%), then this could be a legitimate large scale raffle.
I depends how much has been invested in advertising the draw. You did your bit, rdobbie, by drawing it to my attention; but I'm not suggesting for a second you were 'promoting' it.
I hadn't heard of it 'til now, but I suppose if enough people have then the numbers would stack up.
Speculating on the matter of the promoter - it is possible that the first competition was run by another company who may (or may not) have dissolved prior to submitting their statement of accounts. Leaving creditors unpaid.
It certainly begs a question or two. A newly incorporated limited company, running 'Part II' of an existing prize draw competition? Perhaps they are 'phoenix' traders?
Add to that a fee for Big Ron (£5k?), the webspace and other overheads and at least a 50% margin (but I expect nearer 100%), then this could be a legitimate large scale raffle.
I depends how much has been invested in advertising the draw. You did your bit, rdobbie, by drawing it to my attention; but I'm not suggesting for a second you were 'promoting' it.
I hadn't heard of it 'til now, but I suppose if enough people have then the numbers would stack up.
Speculating on the matter of the promoter - it is possible that the first competition was run by another company who may (or may not) have dissolved prior to submitting their statement of accounts. Leaving creditors unpaid.
It certainly begs a question or two. A newly incorporated limited company, running 'Part II' of an existing prize draw competition? Perhaps they are 'phoenix' traders?