asking for SS# to claim ?

C

cindypag

New member
4/4/18 UPDATE [amy here] ;

cindypag said:
Thanks everyone !!! I have never really won anything over $50.
This is the response I got from their facebook page. Hi Cindy. That is our monthly gift card sweeps. The W9 is required to claim any sweepstakes prize with Crutchfield. While this individual win will not trigger any tax documents, if you were to also win a second sweeps with us this year - then there could be tax implications. The Affidavit and W9 are required by both our Accounting and Legal teams. I'm a consumer too, and am always skeptical about giving out my SS#. I wouldn't ask for these documents if I didn't have to have them before we can fulfill the prize. I also wanted to let you know that docs go straight to Anne Fields - who is our Director of Financial Compliance. She processes and then files the docs. If you would prefer not to fill out the W9, I totally understand. However, it will mean that we will have to move on to an alternate winner. - Jeff K, Online Community Manager
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So I got this email saying I won this but asking me to do several things to claim, including fill out some IRS form with my SS#. Guessing this is a scam, but even if not I'm not giving out my SS#

winner for March. For reference you can see the current version of this sweeps on our website here:
Crutchfield - Seriously Into Audio Since 1974
We want to get your prize, the $350 Crutchfield Gift Card, on its way to you right away. To do that, we’ll need:

· your name, address, phone number;

· your completed Affidavit of Eligibility (attached);

· and a completed W-9 form, which can be found here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf?portlet=3
Please reply to this message with your name, address, and phone number. Once you have sent over your address information, then we will need you to fax the Affidavit and W-9 to 1-434-817-1011 (Attention: Anne Fields). This will get the gift card on its way to you. We will also need you to mail the originals of the documents to:
 
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I'm pretty sure its real, They are asking for this info for tax purposes. You will be required to pay taxes on it.
P.S. Congrats on the win :)
 
Almost all my wins over $100 have asked for W9 information. I ask myself several questions before I fill it out....Did I enter that sweepstakes? I try to find it on Sweeps Advantage because that's where I enter most of mine (I enter so many sometimes I forget I entered so I need to check and remind myself) I then ask...does this e-mail appear legit? (are there spelling errors, stuff that doesn't make sense, etc) and look at the e-mail address it is coming from. If I am still not certain I would call to find out. Since I have been sweeping so long I can generally tell when it's a fake. Haven't been scammed yet.

I know Crutchfield does do sweepstakes as I have seen and entered them before. If you are wanting to be sure you should contact the company or the sweeps sponser direct to verify.
 
W-9s are not required for prizes under $600. So I might tell them that tidbit of information, and see how they respond.
 
I would definitely decide whether you are willing to hand out your social security by what the prize is. But be aware if you are not willing to ever give this information, you will never ever ever win anything over $600. IRS requires it over $600. But if you are cool with that, then make that decision.
 
Congrats, some companies need to account for all winnings paid out and by you filling out the forms, it helps them to have a record of where the funds went. Keep sweeping. ;)
 
cindypag - JA's/Sponsors can ask for our ssn/an affy for *any* win

That said?

Thread: SS# Yah or Nay
https://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/questions-and-answers/85859-ss-yah-nay.html

amyshulk said:
bettycardwell - You can ask if they gave you boiler plate instructions because $200 is below their required reporting threshold, and they *might* agree.
I turned down a $20 ARV win once because they wanted a notarized [affidavit] affy but any sweepstakes we win is taxable by the IRS, so they can ask for your SSN & a notarized affy.
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ALSO these threads may help you;


Thread: 1099 forms for sweeps wins!
https://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/general-sweepstakes-talk/86041-1099-forms-sweeps-wins.html

amyshulk said:
mykidzrock01 - ALL wins are taxable, but sponsors *usually* only send a 1099 when the win/wins exceed their reporting threshold of over $600
More here;
Thread: ARV and your taxes {TY to LIDARKSIDE}[/URL]
https://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/questions-and-answers/17790-arv-your-taxes-ty-lidarkside.html
Click to expand...


Thread: Top 10 Signs that Your Win is Really a Sweepstakes Scam
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/newbies/2235-top-10-signs-your-win-really-sweepstakes-scam.html


amyshulk said:
12 Warning Signs of Sweepstakes Scams (Stay Safe!)
1. You Need to Pay to Receive the Prize
2. You Don't Recognize the Sweepstake
3. You Receive a Large Check with your Notification
4. You Are Asked to Wire Money
5. You Are Pressured to Act in a Hurry
6. You Need to Provide Bank or Credit Card Info to Receive Your Prize
7. The Win is From a Lottery
8. The Win is From a Foreign Lottery
9. The Notification is From a Government Organization
10. The Notification is Sent Via Bulk Mail
Read the article for more info :wave:

badgercontest went more in depth;

ALSO;
Click to expand...

Thread: How do you tell? winning email
http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/foru...how-do-you-tell-winning-email.html#post614239


badgercontest said:
Some steps I use to ensure legitimacy:
1. Ask yourself if this is a sweepstakes that you remember entering. If you never entered for the prize that you just "won" the odds of being a scam are probably high.
2. The notification should come from a business or prize service e-mail address. Anything from an e-mail that anyone can create (IE: @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com, @gmail.com, @outlook.com etc. is a red flag.)
3. Correspondence should look professional. Any forms to be filled out and returned should look like they're from a business. IE: Not a bunch of misspellings, bad grammar, etc.
4. If you need to return any forms make sure they are going to a business e-mail address or a company street address/fax # (Just Google the street address or phone # to check)... either of the company putting on the sweeps or the sweepstakes service company administering it. IE: Don't send anything with your SS# to a residential address or a PO Box.
Note: Any prize won with a value of $600 or more WILL require you to submit your Social Security # to the company for tax purposes. This does NOT mean it's a scam. Some companies will also require it for prizes with values under $600.
5. Don't send anyone $ in order to claim a prize. Anything tax-related you will do on your own with federal/state filings.
6. All "foreign lotteries" are scams. Either that or the UK owes me a ton of money. har har.
7. Be careful with what sweeps you are entering. A sweepstakes from Coca-Cola is much safer to enter than from "WinMoneyNOW! LLC" or whatever. Prevention is the best medicine sometimes. Sites like sweepsadvantage are good because 95% of the sweeps they post/screen I feel comfortable with entering. Just avoid anything that gives you bad feelings... always safer that way.
Good luck with your sweeping! :)
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Some companies want your SS# for tax purposes even if the prize you've just won is less than $600, in case you win another prize from them during the same calendar year, and when combined those prizes are over $600. So they are just coverig their bases.
 
ty kdh58 - added!

kdh58 said:
Some companies want your SS# for tax purposes even if the prize you've just won is less than $600, in case you win another prize from them during the same calendar year, and when combined those prizes are over $600. So they are just coverig their bases.
Click to expand...
 
When I won my first large prize I had to fill out the tax info, liability forms and also had to have them notarized. What they are asking for is common for larger prizes so I would go for it! Congrats on your win.
 
It's legit. I just won a prize worth $500 last week and had to do all that. Then this week I won a prize for $540.00 and had to do nothing lollll
 
Thanks everyone !!! I have never really won anything over $50.
This is the response I got from their facebook page. Hi Cindy. That is our monthly gift card sweeps. The W9 is required to claim any sweepstakes prize with Crutchfield. While this individual win will not trigger any tax documents, if you were to also win a second sweeps with us this year - then there could be tax implications. The Affidavit and W9 are required by both our Accounting and Legal teams. I'm a consumer too, and am always skeptical about giving out my SS#. I wouldn't ask for these documents if I didn't have to have them before we can fulfill the prize. I also wanted to let you know that docs go straight to Anne Fields - who is our Director of Financial Compliance. She processes and then files the docs. If you would prefer not to fill out the W9, I totally understand. However, it will mean that we will have to move on to an alternate winner. - Jeff K, Online Community Manager
 
I also ask myself-is the prize worth the cost in taxes? eg a couple years ago I was notified I won a $3k purse from a legit sweep. So I went to Nordies and looked at one, it was a solid, classy non-trendy bag that I would use often and could easily resell. Then I talked to DH who figured our tax liability would be $700 +/-. He was OK with that. Then I had to decide if a $700 bag was worth the cost In this case it was as I loved it and would get much use from it. It had been some sequined, weirdo purse it would not have been and I would have declined the prize.
 
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