What Happens to My Personal Info?

So, what actually happens to your information that you type into an entry form when you click the Submit button?

Christina asked:

I was just browsing through your site and I think it is great. However, I am curious of the validity of these sweepstakes. How do I know they aren’t selling my address/phone number? I don’t want to be bombarded with junk mail and telemarketers. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

If you are unsure of what they (the company running the giveaway) will do with your information always look in the official rules because they will say what they do with it somewhere in the rules. It might be a link to their site’s privacy policy and if you read the policy it will say what they do with your information. The official rules can tell you a lot about the legitimacy of a sweepstakes too.

Example: Here is one I found on the Ellen Degeneres site

Except as otherwise stated in these official rules, the use of the information each entrant submits in this Sweepstakes is governed by Warner Bros.’ Online privacy policy, which can be found at www.warnerbros.com/?page=terms-of-use/#/page=privacy-policy.

Most of the time the most you will get sent to you is their newsletter. But sometimes the official rules might say something about third party companies and that might mean they will sell your information to another company. But they will definitely disclose all of that info somewhere on their site and usually in the official rules.

Here is another example from Hay House:

By entering this drawing, entrants are agreeing to periodic updates from Hay House, Inc. and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer about this drawing. Entrants’ e-mail addresses will not be sold or given to third parties. Please view our Privacy Policy.

If the website you are entering the sweepstakes on is a blog or run by a small company they may not have a privacy policy or say anything about what they will do with your information. In that case you will need to decide if you want to disclose that information or just move on to the next site. There are so many sweepstakes out there to enter you shouldn’t bother with questionable sites.