FREE! That is the word we all love to hear but free is not always really free.  When signing up for free samples and free magazines you need to be careful in giving out personal information and your personal EMAIL address.  If something doesn’t seem right then don’t do it!  And never give any credit card information for any reason unless you know you are on a trusted site and have the intention of buying something.

Here are a few tips that will help keep you safe!

• Make a freebie only email account. I made the mistake when just starting out using my Yahoo account. Fine you would think but all my Yahoo Groups are linked to that account and the spam started flowing in. I recommend creating a Hotmail account to use only for signing up for free things online. Every once in awhile go in and clean it out.
• Don’t give out too much personal information. You will generally need to give them your name, phone, address and email. Many companies want even more information such as birth date, kid’s names and more. I don’t give my correct phone number, usually it is a couple digits off because don’t you already get enough telemarketing calls? Unless they plan to send me a gift on my birthday do they really need to know it? If it is required I generally give the correct year but randomly click on the month and date. Really in this day and age anyone can find out pretty much anything about you that they want but we do what we can to protect ourselves. NEVER give out Social Security Numbers, correct phone number or credit card information.
• FREE Trials. Personally I don’t do free trials but if you choose to do these read the fine print. You may be getting one item free but by signing up agreeing to have even more shipped to you that you will be billed for. I have read articles (in my mom’s AARP) where people were getting charged months even years from signing up for a free trial and they never looked once to see it on their statement. Some will tell you to go ahead and sign up then just contact them to cancel after receiving your free gift. I don’t know about you but I am too busy to hope to remember to do that, feel it is a bit unethical, and just steer clear of the free trials.

Known websites that are just “Phishing” sites.  Never enter any information for free items from these sites even if it seem like a terrific giveaway.  They just want your information and nothing free will ever arrive.

1twofree.com
angelaledcke.com
angelaslittlecreations.piczo.com
bannershack-n-more.piczo.com
boafnetwork.com
bobbleheadies.com
Candlesunlimited.com
Candlesunlimited2005
candy-lovers.com
cleanyourscreen.com
clearancecrazy.com
cool-free-samples.com
dailyhousetips.com
feiyacosmetics.com/exclusive2.htm
flutterBugs.piczo.com
foreverlitesandgifts.com
freebeachball.com
free-beauty-samples.com
freebeermug.com
free-boxers.com
free-lingerie.com
free-lipstick.com
freeperfumesamples.com
freestressballs.com
free-thongs.com
freewebs.com/babyretreat
freewebs.com/bloominbarnyard
freewebs.com/ourforevergifts
feiyacosmetics.com/exclusive2.htm
flaverco.com
goofygiggles.com
heavenly-recipes.com
helpudiet.com
Hermitandfriends.com
hotexas.com
holiday-giveaways.com
IMIBN.com
kcweb.com
keyeni.com
littlethings.myphotoalbum.com
lose-weight-online.com
lost-survivors.com
lowcarbtina.com
metelle.com/lipbalm.php
mirthfulchildren.com
NameSecure.com
ohshot.com
Ourforevergifts.com
shop/angelaledcke.com
simplicityshop.biz
sunusb.com
Unlimitedgiftshop
usbforfree.com
winperfume.com