You may have already won...
Nov. 1st, 2007 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivkaWhen we were at the zoo on Saturday, I filled out a sweepstakes entry for a free trip. I figured that it was probably a timeshare pitch, but what the hell.
Tonight, the phone rang.
"Rebecca?" said a voice that was breathless with excitement. "You went to the zoo on Saturday?" Yes, I said. "With your husband Michael?" Yes, I said again. "And you filled out a drawing for a free Florida vacation?" Yes, I said.
"Well, Rebecca, maybe you want to sit down... because you! Are going! To Florida!"
"Okay," I said calmly. "Why don't you give me a few more details?"
He dropped the hugely excited voice, and his tone became kindly, confidential. "Well, as you know, any time you win something big - like if you win a car in the lottery, or something - any time you win something worth a few thousand dollars, there's a gift tax to pay. And-"
"Huh, this is funny," I said. "So you're going to want me to send you some money so I can get my free vacation."
"Well, there is a special fee that we can pay to get around it but you know what let's just give this a pass," he said rapidly. And hung up.
I am amused at how much he didn't even try, once it became clear that I wasn't going to be an easy mark. He didn't even wait for me to say no, I didn't intend to pay a fee for something ostensibly free. He didn't try to argue with me. One hint of skepticism, and he was ready to move on to someone who would shout "OMG, me?! But I never win anything! Florida!!! Wow!!!" I'm sure they make a lot more money that way.
Tonight, the phone rang.
"Rebecca?" said a voice that was breathless with excitement. "You went to the zoo on Saturday?" Yes, I said. "With your husband Michael?" Yes, I said again. "And you filled out a drawing for a free Florida vacation?" Yes, I said.
"Well, Rebecca, maybe you want to sit down... because you! Are going! To Florida!"
"Okay," I said calmly. "Why don't you give me a few more details?"
He dropped the hugely excited voice, and his tone became kindly, confidential. "Well, as you know, any time you win something big - like if you win a car in the lottery, or something - any time you win something worth a few thousand dollars, there's a gift tax to pay. And-"
"Huh, this is funny," I said. "So you're going to want me to send you some money so I can get my free vacation."
"Well, there is a special fee that we can pay to get around it but you know what let's just give this a pass," he said rapidly. And hung up.
I am amused at how much he didn't even try, once it became clear that I wasn't going to be an easy mark. He didn't even wait for me to say no, I didn't intend to pay a fee for something ostensibly free. He didn't try to argue with me. One hint of skepticism, and he was ready to move on to someone who would shout "OMG, me?! But I never win anything! Florida!!! Wow!!!" I'm sure they make a lot more money that way.
