Some people have found advertisements on sites saying "click here for your free iPod" or "free 6-megapixel digital camera" or other expensive item for free. On the Internet, always remember that if you see something offered by a company you've never heard of before, and if the deal sounds too good to be true, it almost always is untrue. But there are alot of these little companies starting up that specialize in giving away free products. Are they legitimate? Some of them in fact are legit and perfectly legal. These are companies that make a commission by selling people's personal information to third party companies such as magazines, DVD houses, and credit card companies. To get your free item, they will require you to do a series of things that may include:
Submitting your personal address and phone number, and email address. They will put you on mailing lists. Marketing emails you receive at that point are not unsolicited because you did request to be added to third party marketing lists.
Signing up for trial subscriptions to services and/or magazines
Signing up for a new credit card, activating the new card, and making a purchase with that card.
Agree to the marketing terms of their sponsors, which may include receiving marking materials by mail and possibly responding to a mailing
Signing up for DVD club subscriptions (at full retail price) that you have the option to refuse the shipment for and have it be returned to the sender to get refunded for the DVD.
Remaining an active member for 1-2 months for everything you signed up for.
Referring 5 of your friends and having each of them do all the above
Mailing in a voucher form before a certain date
The more expensive of an item you requested, the more things they may require you to do. All of these companies are looking for one thing from you, to make commission by selling your information to other companies who hope to make money from you in the long-term. They will actually make more money from you than the price of the item they are offering for free. Don't be fooled by companies that claim they're looking for "product testers" for iPods and $600 digital cameras. It's more likely they're looking for "product testers" for a credit cards that you must sign up for and pay for. But if you don't care about signing up for credit cards, magazines, and giving away you and your friends' personal information, some of these companies will indeed send you an iPod or digital camera. Just understand it will require a bit of work on your part to acomplish the requirements in the allotted time, otherwise they will sell your personal information and you will get nothing back. Thousands of people have already received their free gift by acomplishing the requirements of the information-collector, but I highly suggest against falling into their trap unless you really know what you're getting yourself into. Remember, a "hot deal" is not about the best price - it's all about getting the best value. How much value do you place on you and your friends by signing everyone up to DVD and magazine club subscriptions, credit cards, and never-ending marketing materials by mail? In my opinion, there are so many better ways to get hot deals on the Internet.