As summer approaches, many retailers and mall kiosks offer sweepstakes and drawings, asking for personal information such as name, email address, and phone number. While some sweepstakes are legitimate, the official rules or privacy policy may allow the sponsor, its affiliates, or marketing partners to use and share this information.

Risks of Sweepstakes Entry Data

The Federal Trade Commission has found that data brokers collect information from online and offline sources, including purchases, magazine subscriptions, income data, and other personal details. This information can be combined into profiles that help marketers predict what may capture an individual’s attention.

Responding to a sweepstakes can become a valuable signal, indicating that a prize-based offer caught an individual’s attention and persuaded them to provide personal information. The FTC has warned that sweepstakes promoters may sell entry information to advertisers, leading to more targeted advertising, junk mail, telemarketing calls, and spam.

Protecting Personal Information

To limit the amount of personal information handed over, individuals can reduce unwanted marketing and help their family recognize a fake prize before money changes hands. This can be achieved by providing the minimum information required for a valid entry, thinking twice when a form asks about sensitive subjects, and looking for the sponsor’s full name, eligibility requirements, drawing date, and privacy terms.

Individuals can also use a reputable data removal service to contact brokers on their behalf and continue submitting removal requests when their information reappears. Additionally, creating an alias email address used only for contests, store loyalty programs, and promotional offers can help contain the resulting email.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.