I wouldn't join such contest, would you?
By enelym001
@enelym001 (8322)
Philippines
December 12, 2011 4:43am CST
My friend invited me to join a Samsung Christmas contest/promo on FB. It’s the one where you can win Samsung gadgets by simply choosing 12 of your friends whom you want to give those gadgets listed. The Samsung facebook page seems genuine coz I have seen that they have had contest even before. So I did join, liked the page and choose 12 friends.
The last step would be to key in your personal details and the IMEI of your phone. 
But it was the IMEI number they require me to enter that stopped me from joining the contest. I can’t see the point why they need to ask for my phone’s IMEI. It’s the first time I encountered an online contest asking for IMEI.
Am I just being so suspicious? Or is it just right not to tell anyone about my IMEI number?
But it was the IMEI number they require me to enter that stopped me from joining the contest. I can’t see the point why they need to ask for my phone’s IMEI. It’s the first time I encountered an online contest asking for IMEI.
Am I just being so suspicious? Or is it just right not to tell anyone about my IMEI number?5 people like this
16 responses
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
12 Dec 11
hi enelym
Reading and seeing the attached image...The engineer in me took over and.... I ripped open my cellphone expecting to see some kool pictures and codes(as in the attachment) and even found them... but... it was then that I realized that I have done something really severe to my cellphone and now that needs repairs
This is another reason I should not be trying to find or share my IMEI Number anywhere
Reading and seeing the attached image...The engineer in me took over and.... I ripped open my cellphone expecting to see some kool pictures and codes(as in the attachment) and even found them... but... it was then that I realized that I have done something really severe to my cellphone and now that needs repairs
This is another reason I should not be trying to find or share my IMEI Number anywhere
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
13 Dec 11
The new ones come with too many of features 
and mostly not useful (for me).. They have Fb,emails, youtube and all those places where you get common cold or flu virus(They dont yet get any anti-dotes like MyLot on these)
, some boring yet addictive games like SNAKEs...
how about the yet to be released new iPhone 5.0? 
and mostly not useful (for me).. They have Fb,emails, youtube and all those places where you get common cold or flu virus(They dont yet get any anti-dotes like MyLot on these), some boring yet addictive games like SNAKEs...
how about the yet to be released new iPhone 5.0? @enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Hehe wait til it out in the market, I'll buy one and send you my iPhone 4.9
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Buying a new one would be cool and then sell the IMEI number of your phone
Though they might regret buying your IMEI
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
12 Dec 11
Hi!
I feel quite apprehensive of sharing private and personal details on such public platforms, therefore, I refrain myself from participating in such contests.
Giving personal details could prove counter productive.
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
13 Dec 11
You see our greed could lend us in trouble and once we have parted with our personal information on any site, it becomes public and could be misused.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
That's very true. The spam emails we're getting are actually from those sites or contest we take part in.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Hi dpk,
Good that you're not joining contests like these. This contest looks so genuine as someone had already won from their past contests. But I am sure they're gonna make use of the information the participants are providing them. So it's really a no-no to join one. Thanks for the response.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
14 Dec 11
Hi enelym!
That's really suspicious! Why would they ask for the IMEI number of your phone? I did not know what IMEI means but I searched for it and it's the number that uniquely identifies a mobile phone to connect to a network. And it is used to blocked a phone when it is stolen to prevent the thief from using it. If they are asking for the IMEI number, are they planning to block the mobile phones of the contestants? Or are there other uses of this number?
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
15 Dec 11
That's what I also thought, what would be the use of IMEI for them. If this is a unique identification of our personal phone then we must not just give it away.
@jaiho2009 (39140)
• Philippines
12 Dec 11
Goodness...this is a good way to ruin your phone.
Well, here in our country, I am not sure if our phone will ever stop working once the IMEI is hacked -unless for those who activated their phones through network companies with their mobile phone connected through lines -or locked for a certain ISP (Smart/Globe/Sun etc)
I've worked as TSR (Technical Support) for US account wherein-IMEI is very important for our customers.
One number missed or mistakenly entered will damage the customer's mobile phone.
(I knew it- I've done it)
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
12 Dec 11
You've done it? On your phone or with your customers?
I'm so thankful I never gave in to that contest. I've already started deleting my invitation to friends. Coz it would require first to pick 12 friends, I didn't know by selecting their names it would automatically send them the invitation to participate too
What a way to get IMEI from people! I am sure a lot will be joining there as they have given away prizes before as I checked their previous photos.
I'm so thankful I never gave in to that contest. I've already started deleting my invitation to friends. Coz it would require first to pick 12 friends, I didn't know by selecting their names it would automatically send them the invitation to participate too What a way to get IMEI from people! I am sure a lot will be joining there as they have given away prizes before as I checked their previous photos.1 person likes this
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
17 Dec 11
Hi enelym: I agree with you. I don't understand why are they asking you such a personal information and it sounds like hackers doing something. There are so many scams these days that you always should keep an eye on the things people offer to you and be very careful about them.
ALVARO
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
18 Dec 11
Hi Alvaro,
Yes, I try my best to check whether I should join or not. I understand that in order to take part on contest we have to give details such as name and contact info. But the IMEI number is really questionable.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
But the IMEI number is a requirement. So I think the entry wouldn't valid if you didn't enter your IMEI number.
@albto_568 (1268)
• Costa Rica
13 Dec 11
This sounds like scam to me. I don´t see a serious company as Samsung asking such data to enter a contest, and about the page, there are some very sofisticated scammers that can make a page, look like real, with fake links even. I think that you are right being suspicious, and not to give personal data. I even recomend you to advise the 12 friends you choosed, because, they can be contacted, using your identity, and they may become victims of that scam.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
14 Dec 11
Hi albto,
Yes I did advised some of them while I also deleted the invitation posted on their wall. And it's true that anyone can make a page on FB that will look sophisticated and genuine, that are some actually falling for such trap. But this one, I am not sure as I can see that they are posting winners now. What's not good in here is getting IMEI of participants, I don't think it will be necessary coz email address and mobile number were already asked, they can't contact winners by collecting IMEI, so it's a bit suspicious.
@ifa225 (14468)
• Indonesia
13 Dec 11
Hi enelym,
I have samsung phone. They asked me to fill the guaranted card through their site. One question that i have to fill the form if guranteedcard is the IMEI number of my mobile
maybe that is a must question so they know that the promotion is only for the customer of samsung.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Hi ifa,
The mechanics of the contest didn't actually mentioned that only Samsung gadget owners can join the contest. So I still doubt whether they have no intentions on just getting the IMEI.
@fheroan (615)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Hi there enelym001! Well, I think its better not to join those kind of contests. Whenever I sign up in a website then suddenly it would ask for very personal data. I wouldn't mind it and just leave the page. I think it's so dangerous if they know something like that. They can actually track you just by having those simple numbers. You since we're in an information age, "Information is power." Look at facebook, almost everything about us is already there. And it's free. But actually with all the information that facebook got from us. It's actually the most powerful thing they have. They say they won't share it and it's confidential. But i doubt that. Anyways, Have a nice day!
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Hi fheroan,
Yes it has been an issue actually. A lot of people are doubting the confidentiality of our information which FBs been claiming to provide. I think that even if we try to make sure the privacy settings has been set, some apps on FB still manage to have access on our private information. Thanks for the response!
@airasheila (5454)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
hi there enelym001,
if i will be place in the same situation as you are, i will also think it twice before proceeding. as the contest promo is quite fictitious since it requires the IMEI number of the phone. hence, this kind of questioning is not fine and legal. perhaps, it is better to report this to NTC (National Telecommunications Corporation) or the agency that governs this issue on your area. You are not becoming suspicious, you just did what you think is right.
Stay alert and vigilant. It is better to be safe than sorry.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Hi airaheila,
It's been circulated in FB, they have a page. I am pretty sure you might get an invitation if any of your friends joined in. I'm thinking it might be a genuine one. But the questionable part is getting the IMEI.
@fantabulus (4000)
• India
12 Dec 11
I hate those type of contest. I received this type of messages daily on the occassion but I not interested on it. Company misuse us most of the time take the charges also.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
12 Dec 11
That is true. I have joined about one or two earlier this year but I really have no luck in contests here in my country. So I got tired of it This one I thought of trying but then when it asked for a very important info I backed out.
This one I thought of trying but then when it asked for a very important info I backed out.
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
13 Dec 11
hi enelym! Having taken action to induct 12 new friends & spent the time, how I wish you could submit the entry without hassles and win! What did the friend who invited you to the contest do for IMEI number? Is that person a close/trusted friend? I wonder though, what will the guys actually be doing with the IMEI number. I mean if you didn't like to get skeptical, let us assume for a minute, it may be that they are trying to use it for some statistical analysis? Never know. BUT, with an element of doubt created because the page is not transparent about why it requires users to provide IMEI number, it is better, as you have done to quit. 
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Hi pushhyarag,
When I had those doubts and quit participating on the contest, I actually didn't know that there were invitation already sent to my friends. So as soon as I realized from lotters here how it's not good to just give out the IMEI, I instantly message some of them to just ignore that invitation and delete it. When I found out that I can delete invitation from their wall, I went to their walls and deleted it. I checked to one of them whether they received a notification after I deleted it and says that he didn't get anything about it. Well I am not sure how they can use IMEI in their statistical analysis. They could asked for the phone model but not the IMEI.
Well I am not sure how they can use IMEI in their statistical analysis. They could asked for the phone model but not the IMEI.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
12 Dec 11
If you would see the contest you will feel like a Santa Claus picking friends to give those nice and lovely Samsung gadgets for them and not for yourself But I think I would not be risking my phone identification number just for that. I am not lucky with such contest anyway
But I think I would not be risking my phone identification number just for that. I am not lucky with such contest anyway
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
13 Dec 11
hi enelym, I hate to sound so negative about this matter..But
I a skeptic when it comes to giving up too much information about
certain stuff...for me or my friends.
Not calling you greedy but a lot of these contest leads to so much
other problems in life ..maybe not at the time but the information
may come back to haunt one later..
A lot of times we just try these contest because it would really
feel great IF you win..But the fact of giving up certain infomation
dosen't even cross our minds..
A lot of Flim FLams come from making these sort of decisions. Then
we stop and think about the move we made..
Nothing wrong with entering contest just follow your conscience and
make prudent decisions. Good Luck!!!!!!!!
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Hi friend,
Well maybe some who joined are not greedy maybe just wanted to try. I, for one, loves getting freebies.. I just think it's kinda cool getting some stuff, it could be a small inexpensive one to expensive ones. Varies upon what we may get. But when I feel something's not right, I backed out That is true, the information we give may be used one day so better stay out from such contest.
That is true, the information we give may be used one day so better stay out from such contest.
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
12 Dec 11
I think many times, dear enelym..these contests goe one step over the line in requesting personal data...and I too, put the brakes on before divulging something that would give more access to my personal life! Furthermore, I do not enter any contests that ask for a list of friends, as you never know what you are subjecting them too! Nice to hear from you, princess!@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
12 Dec 11
Hi perga
Although I am unlucky with all these contest, sometimes I still try to check out if there is no harm in joining especially if I get the link from a known friend. But once I get so suspicious about the info they're asking, I would simply close it. Oh I forgot to remove the apps! I better removed it from my FB apps as I am sure it will have access to my personal info.
Although I am unlucky with all these contest, sometimes I still try to check out if there is no harm in joining especially if I get the link from a known friend. But once I get so suspicious about the info they're asking, I would simply close it. Oh I forgot to remove the apps! I better removed it from my FB apps as I am sure it will have access to my personal info.
@befrindwithme26 (5805)
• Philippines
12 Dec 11
i have not join any contest like that....you may try it but i am not doing that .
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
13 Dec 11
Yes I did tried some, 'though I am still trying to be cautious on what they're asking. Thanks!
