Sweepstake Contests Dupe Some Seniors

Thanks to The Times for “Elderly Subscribe to Contest Obsession” (Feb. 7). The story of Richard Lusk is a familiar one.

For five years I followed the rules and mailed in orders for magazines or donated to organizations. Many times I was told I was a winner, but Super Bowl Sunday tops the list. Dave Sayer of the Prize Patrol of Publishers Clearing House sent a notice saying I was a winner, enclosing his phone number, telling me to call and let him know if I would be home, and that I would be on TV and would get an extra $5,000 for that.

Well, I put on my Sunday best and waited, but no deal, and as you know, the deal was $10 million.

Since this type of business has been ruled legal and they made it clear you do not have to make a purchase, my advice to seniors is: Don’t send in an order and these deceptive businesses will soon not exist.

HARRY KEENE

Los Angeles

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Your article hits close to home. My stepmother died last December and I have canceled 61 magazine subscriptions, some duplicates and triplicates extending to 2003. She was spending over two-thirds of her Social Security income on subscriptions and donations to charities. Her drawers were full of the worthless “free gifts” offered by many of these shady operators.

I strongly believe that the law and courts need to recognize that “plain English” criteria should apply to advertising. The meaning should be clear on the face of it without engaging in complex analysis of what is said in ads.

I must say that with only one exception all the providers were quick to respond to my calls to cancel subscriptions and refund unused issues. Ironically, that one exception is Consumers Digest, which refused to cancel the subscription on the grounds that the risk-free trial period had expired.

JACK CRAWFORD

Ridgecrest

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My mother was declared legally insane last summer, in large part due to her obsession with the contests. Since 1993, she spent more than $50,000 on “prizes” that she believed were destined to bring her millions. When the authorities, at my request, broke into her apartment to take her to the hospital, we found contest letters by the hundreds, stuffed into pillow cases and boxes. We also found checks made out to the contest perpetrators, including American Family, for sums of $4,000 and more. My brother is still paying off the charge accounts that she used for purchases.

Mother is getting a bit better now but she still puts every penny we give her into the contests. We cannot stop her. She is dead broke and dependent on her children for support. I am happy someone is finally trying to put a halt to scams that have destroyed many formerly sensible seniors.

MAXINE ASHER

Beverly Hills