So this phone rep from the "Southern Bridal Registry" AKA "Royal Prestige" called my fiancee Emily today to inform her that she'd won a sweepstakes, including a couple free 3 day--2 night vacation vouchers and a $500 gift certificate to some webstore.  She and I also have to go to some convention (cookware) where they're going to cook us lunch and discuss the details of said "sweepstakes."  Well she called me to tell me about all this today, and needless to say, we were both excited--because hey, we're poor and we wanted a free honeymoon.  But we took it warily, because hey--nothing is free anymore.  I mean damn... I want to give Emily a nice honeymoon--but it's not like I have access to a fortune to do so.

Anyway, I was being good and studying my Biology and Emily called me just to say goodnight and we mentioned the "sweepstakes" deal. I mentioned that we should check it out online... so after a few minutes I get up to Google "Southern Bridal Registry."  First thing that comes up is Scam Report.  I read all the bits... one of which is that you have to pay a $75 deposit to receive the vouchers--(it's supposed to be refunded to you at the end of your stay).  Oh, and also the $500 gift certificate does not pay for shipping and handling which I read was extremely expensive (came out to over $100).  I'm glad I read it all to begin with.  I called Emily--she'd read it too.  Scam, scam, scam... She's feels particularly misled I think--even though we didn't pay them anything (and believe me, we won't)... but ya know, they said she "won"... but we didn't win jack.  I'm really irritated at them because they got her and my hopes all up for a possibility of a honeymoon in the Bahamas...  You know, sometimes there are such things as real sweepstakes, where you actually win something... I was thinking that it could have been one of those.  But alas... skepticism wins and cynicism grows. 

You know, picking on young couples hoping to be newly weds soon is pretty yucky. 

I don't think we're going to waste our Saturday afternoon going to their cooking demonstration to sell their over-priced cookware.  Although, I may just decide to go and waste their time and shove it in their face that they're scammers, etc.  If I go though, I will be leaving my wallet in the car along with Em's purse.  Besides, I don't have any money that they can scam me for anyway.