Legal Question in Consumer Law in Pennsylvania

Re: winning free total gym equipment

Not enough information to tell.

If it was a legitimate contest, the sponsor would ask for a W-9, and issue a 1099 because the value of a contest prize is taxable income, they have to report it to the IRS, and you have to report it on your tax return.

But of course, scam artists and ID thieves try to act like legitimate operators, so just because a scammer does the same thing a legit sponsor would (to get your SS #), doesn't make them legit.

You have to do some due diligence. For example, did you enter this contest? How?

If you just got a notice out of the blue, from some outfit you never heard of, then you should be pretty suspicious. The old saying is true as ever: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't.