Just had this email today from a “Jose Moreno” apparently. My spidey sense screams phishing scam, though if it is I’m kind of amazed they would go to this trouble! I did check junk and deleted emails and have had nothing from any promotions agency either. Anyone else had this?
I can't promise that it's not a scam, but there is a SW employee with that name.
Kevin Quigley What email address shows up when you hover over the sender. A lot of scammers send it under the name of someone else but the email address actually goes somewhere else.
What address shows up if you hover over the tamara.smith@sweepstakes.com link or any of the other links? Do NOT click on any of the links as it could go to some malicious website or put a virus on your computer if it actually is a scammer. This is how most scanners attack you. They use YOU to do their dirty deed.
What does that do?
They even got the detail of capitalizing the last name of Jose MORENO....Then there's the email address for him in the email. Rather than email the sweepstakes, which may not be legit (my thinking is it is legit, but better to confirm), just email Jose and get him to confirm.
The bigger question is why are they using an outside company like that instead of doing it from a 3ds.com address to not cause this type of question, if it is legit?
Matt Peneguy wrote:
The bigger question is why are they using an outside company like that instead of doing it from a 3ds.com address to not cause this type of question, if it is legit?
I believe there are all kind of complicated laws for giving away money. It is better to contract the job of disbursing the money to a specialized company. It might be a matter of liability.
For example, as part of the process, I had to fill and sign two tax forms.
I believe there are all kind of complicated laws for giving away money. It is better to contract the job of disbursing the money to a specialized company. It might be a matter of liability.
For example, as part of the process, I had to fill and sign two tax forms.
especially when giving money away internationally
Jeremiah Feist wrote:
I believe there are all kind of complicated laws for giving away money. It is better to contract the job of disbursing the money to a specialized company. It might be a matter of liability.
For example, as part of the process, I had to fill and sign two tax forms.
especially when giving money away internationally
Yeah guys that makes perfect sense.
Should be legitimate assuming you actually participated in the Beta somehow. Did you dig through your junk to find the original e-mail from SweepstakesPros?
This is the same company they have been using to manage prizes the past couple years. Definitely does look like spam and if you won a prize you also have to fill out a tax form. If I'm not mistaken cash prizes have various rules that vary by region so I assume that's why SOLIDWORKS (and other major companies I've worked with in the past) use a 3rd party that handles those logistics. If you won a prize the money is deposited by Paypal and they mail you a spiffy T-shirt.
Jose Moreno is the one that posts the community leaderboard and points leaders in the Beta Forums I believe.
But this is the same process I used last year and this year. The only difference this year is my junk filter was more aggressive so I almost lost the prize money! I got that reminder today from Jose and the original e-mail was 3 days away from automatic deletion.
EDIT: Definitely still check the originating address as others have mentioned and make sure that the prize issued makes sense to you
The legitimate email comes directly from Tamara. Just to clarify - this is a legitimate email. The link works and you will get the money.
If you cannot find the email from her, write to her directly and CC Jose Moreno.
See below:
Alin Vargatu wrote:
The legitimate email comes directly from Tamara. Just to clarify - this is a legitimate email. The link works and you will get the money.
If you cannot find the email from her, write to her directly and CC Jose Moreno.
See below:
Alin,
I wouldn't be surprised if you've got 50 of those awards...Do you ever sleep?
Though I was not able to participate in beta contest but I can confirm that this is a legitimate email.
Congrats to every beta winner and thank you for their time
not sure.. but, Jose has been on the forum in the past... ?
I’ll drop him an email and ask. Problem is I didn’t actually enter any beta competition I’m aware of. Just posted comments (which would be unlikely to win anything 
)
Kevin Quigley wrote:
I’ll drop him an email and ask. Problem is I didn’t actually enter any beta competition I’m aware of. Just posted comments (which would be unlikely to win anything
)
Correct. You won an award as a thank you for your valuable comments in the BETA Forum.
Alin Vargatu wrote:
Kevin Quigley wrote:
I’ll drop him an email and ask. Problem is I didn’t actually enter any beta competition I’m aware of. Just posted comments (which would be unlikely to win anything
Correct. You won an award as a thank you for your valuable comments in the BETA Forum.
That's great! I'm glad to hear that they are compensating people for helping to beta test the software.
No....
But I had this one... Spammers are busily trying to figure out how to get "Our" money