Freebie Mom publishes offers involving free samples, sweepstakes, instant wins, and deals at freebiemom.com. An offer listing should be checked separately from the company actually supplying the sample or administering a promotion. Before entering information, identify the sponsor, read the rules, and confirm whether the next page requests a purchase, subscription, or payment.
The FTC distinguishes real sweepstakes from messages demanding money to collect a prize. Genuine sweepstakes are free and winners are chosen by chance. A claim fee or payment to improve the odds is a warning sign. A familiar website name in an email does not establish that the sender actually runs the promotion described.
Freebie Mom disclosure and third-party offers
The Freebie Mom disclaimer includes an affiliate and advertising disclosure. That matters when evaluating an offer because promotional content and the destination business have different roles. Check the destination’s own conditions before agreeing to anything. The FTC warns that some affiliate advertisements can exaggerate a free trial’s benefits or omit the practical costs of signing up.
Freebie Mom giveaways and publisher contact
For Freebie Mom giveaways hosted by the publisher, the disclaimer says rules are posted on its site or social channels. Preserve the specific rules and entry confirmation. Compare any later prize notification with the original sponsor and redemption instructions. A message asking for money should not be treated as legitimate merely because an entry was submitted.
The Freebie Mom contact page directs questions, corrections, expired offers, and broken links to [email protected]. When reporting a listing problem, include the offer address and the date it was seen. Keep payment issues directed toward the business that actually charged the account as well. A publisher inquiry does not itself cancel a merchant’s subscription or transaction.
Freebies, trial terms and entry records
For freebies involving a trial, read the duration, later price, and cancellation instructions before supplying card details. The FTC warns that small shipping charges can lead to larger recurring bills. Check any preselected boxes and save the confirmation. Mark the cancellation deadline independently instead of assuming the word free means there will never be a charge.
- Identify the actual sponsor and destination merchant.
- Read entry rules and any recurring payment terms.
- Keep the original offer and subsequent prize messages.
A useful entry record includes the promotion title, sponsor, closing date, and the rules displayed when participating. Compare those details with subsequent messages instead of following a new link immediately. The prize scam guide explains the FTC’s warning signs, including demands for taxes or processing charges before a supposed winner can receive money or merchandise.
Limit the information supplied to an entry form and read how the organizer says it will be used. The FTC notes that contest promoters may share information with advertisers, leading to more marketing. The phishing warning guide explains related precautions for later messages seeking account credentials or financial information under the pretext of confirming a prize.
What to do about charges or deceptive prize payments
If a free trial becomes an unwanted subscription, follow the merchant’s cancellation instructions and keep proof of the request. Watch subsequent statements for further charges. FTC guidance recommends disputing charges when a business keeps billing after cancellation or bills without consent. Identify the actual charging business from the statement and transaction records before asking for help.
When money was sent after a deceptive prize message, contact the payment provider quickly. The FTC recommends asking a card issuer, payment application, or bank about reversing the payment. Retain the sender address and instructions, including where funds went. Describe the deception accurately so the provider can assess the transaction under the appropriate process and account protections.
For a payment through PayPal, open the genuine account directly and report what occurred instead of using another link supplied by the sender. For a bank transfer, call the bank using an established contact route. The FTC recommends seeking reversal promptly. A refund attempt should not involve sending additional money to unlock a supposed prize or reimbursement.
Where to report and protect personal information
Report deceptive prize demands through ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the state attorney general. Include the promotion name, claimed sponsor, message, payment request, and transaction details if money moved. The reporting checklist helps separate the original offer from later contacts. Preserve both so the report explains which party actually made the demand and what persuaded the recipient to respond.
If personal information was disclosed, use the FTC’s recovery guidance to choose further steps according to the information involved. Its advice covers exposed account credentials and sensitive identity details. Keep the questionable message while securing the affected account through a known route. Monitoring later communications is particularly useful after an entry form or trial produces unexpected follow-up requests.
Questions and answers
What does Freebie Mom publish?
The website presents free sample offers, sweepstakes, instant wins, and shopping deals. Check whether a particular promotion is hosted by the publisher or a different sponsor. The rules and destination merchant identify who handles entry, fulfillment, or billing.
Does an affiliate disclosure change how offers should be checked?
An advertising or affiliate disclosure signals a promotional relationship. The offer’s own terms still need review. The FTC cautions that some affiliate advertisements exaggerate free trial claims, so inspect the actual merchant’s price, cancellation method, and recurring billing conditions.
Should a prize winner pay a processing fee?
The FTC says a demand for payment to receive a prize is a scam warning sign. Genuine sweepstakes are free and winning is by chance. Verify a notification through the original sponsor rather than paying through the incoming message.
Where can an expired listing be reported?
The publisher’s contact page directs questions, corrections, expired offers, and broken links to [email protected]. Include the specific listing address. If another business charged the account, contact that merchant and the payment provider separately about cancellation or a disputed transaction.
What if a trial keeps billing after cancellation?
Retain the cancellation request and review the statement for further charges. The FTC recommends disputing payments when a business charges without consent or continues billing after cancellation. Contact the card provider through its established account or customer service route.
How should a deceptive prize payment be reported?
Notify the provider used to send the money and ask about reversal. Report the message and transaction to the FTC and state attorney general. Preserve the claimed sponsor, recipient account, payment instructions, and evidence of any actual entry.
Sources
- Offer categories · Freebie Mom
- Advertising and giveaway disclaimer · Freebie Mom
- Publisher contact · Freebie Mom
- Prize and sweepstakes warning signs · Federal Trade Commission
- Free trials and subscriptions · Federal Trade Commission
- Payment and identity recovery steps · Federal Trade Commission
- Sweepstakes and prize notifications · California Attorney General