‘Scratch and Match $100 Amazon Gift Card’ scam

Another PTL Promotion uses deceptive marketing schemes to make it appear as if you won a grand prize and a $100 Amazon gift card.

Did you receive a Scratch & Match voucher in the mail that says “scratch off the circle below” and “if your numbers match, you are the winner?” Did you scratch the game piece and were the numbers a match? If so, you’re not alone. But, you didn’t really win anything, it’s just an unethical marketing promotion powered by PTL Promotions.

The purpose of the scam is to get you to call a phone number such as 855-270-6163. The telemarketer who answers the phone in the call center will then ask you for your matching number and instruct you to visit a local business to match your number with a number on an official prize board, most likely at a car dealership.

ALSO SEE: “Money Carlo” Match to Win Car Dealership Scam

Local businesses, especially car dealerships, utilize these types of deceptive promotions all the time in order to attract business. It’s an unethical and disgusting thing to do to people, but for now, it’s legal.

Whether or not it is a scam is debatable. On the back of the voucher in small text, there are details that say “there is no guarantee that grand prizes will be awarded” and “the contestant must match in person their lucky number against the official prize board during event.” It also says that the Amazon gift card is not redeemable at Amazon. They’re basically covering their tracks with the details in fine print from when they first made it look like you won a grand prize and $100 Amazon gift card.

Here’s an example of what is written on the front of the scratch & match game piece:

Scratch off the circle below. If your numbers match, you are the winner of one of the following…

GRAND PRIZE + MORE GREAT PRIZES:

ONE MILLION DOLLARS CASH!

New Samsung Galaxy Tablet

Samsung 65″ Curve TV

7-Day Royal Caribbean Cruise OR 3-Day/2-Night Getaway with 2 Rouch-trip Airline Tickets

SCRATCH & MATCH

451193

If Your Numbers Match

CALL 855-270-6163

BONUS

RESPOND WITHIN 48 HOURS AND RECEIVE THE GREAT GIFT CARD ABOVE!

amazon.com gift card UP TO $100

The phone number associated with this game (855-270-6163) has a history of conducting various scams and deceptive marketing. It is blacklisted and flagged by many third-parties due to how the phone number was used in the past.

If you call the phone number a telemarketer for PTL Promotions in a call center will answer. As already mentioned, they will ask you for your matching number and other sensitive information such as your name, address, telephone number, and email address. Once they have collected your information they will instruct you to visit a local business, most likely a car dealership, to match your number with a number on the official prize board.

I would advise you to not hand over your sensitive information to these telemarketers. You never know what may come from it. If you do provide them with your information, they may think that you are gullible which makes you a target for future scams or promotions. In return, you may receive more junk mail, email spam, and calls from scammers, telemarketers, and robocallers.

There have been a lot of promotions like this in the past. They all instruct you to visit a local business to match your number. Over the years, no one has come forward with a story about winning anything from these types of promotions.

It is very unlikely and almost certain that you will not win anything. You can take your chances by calling the phone number, but don’t expect anything besides disappointment.