I Won A Real Contest ... I KNEW THAT I HAD ENTERED THE CONTEST. THE EMAIL HADN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE!

I want to tell you about a REAL contest I won.

I won't be putting any identifying info here, but it will give you some guide lines about what a real contest is and how it differs from a spam contest.

First of all, I was already online buying something from a reputable online company.
I was already at their site and I knew it was a good site and that I had bought from it a million times before! I was not directed to the site from an email that could have been phony and directed me to a scam site, set up to trick me. I had gone to the website myself and on my own.

The site asked for a 250 word essay on a subject.
I hadn't gotten an email out of nowhere asking for information, or saying I was randomly picked from my email address. The site that I was already on and already buying on, had a little box explaining the contest and I choose to give it a try.

I wrote the essay, clicked send, and forgot all about it because I knew I wouldn't win!
We are rarely given a free ride for doing nothing (and never from an email coming from out of the blue!) On the other hand, I had actually entered and written a well thought out essay on a site I had used before so there was a possibility that I might win.

A couple of months later I received an email that I almost deleted,
but I realized that I knew the company and had ACTUALLY entered the contest!

Here is a copy of the email I was sent...
Dear (my actual name, because it was a real email, from a real place...so they actually knew it!):

Thank you for your story submission. Our judges thought your entry was very good, and have selected you as one of our 10 finalists who's story will be posted online at (website) beginning on or about sept. 23rd. In order for us to post your story, and for you to be considered for the final round of public judging and voting, I will need you to complete and fax back the attached affidavit to (fax number) by no later than 3:00 PM ET time on sept. 21st.

The essay was repeated here, The same essay I wrote. The same essay that I knew I had sent to a reputable company on a website that I had gone to myself! and then the email continued...

If you have any questions or need further details, please don't hesitate to call me during business hours at (phone number) or during the weekend at (phone number).
Name of person writing to me
And company info

First I got very excited, then I calmed down and went to the website I had entered the contest at. It said they had picked finalists and that they would let people know soon who they were!

Then I looked up the company where the email had come from. It was a real company that ran contests. There were no complaints about them.

I called and realized they were clearly telling the truth.

I KNEW THAT I HAD ENTERED THE CONTEST. THE EMAIL HADN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE!

Then my essay was posted online, I got tons of votes, and I won lots of money for me and for a charity!

COOL!

I KNEW THAT I HAD ENTERED THE CONTEST. THE EMAIL HADN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE!

I KNEW THAT I HAD ENTERED THE CONTEST. THE EMAIL HADN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE!

I KNEW THAT I HAD ENTERED THE CONTEST. THE EMAIL HADN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE!

And that is the key...I KNEW THAT I HAD ENTERED THE CONTEST. THE EMAIL HADN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE!

It sure was fun though!