Here's a little rant for you.

For the third time this week (it's Tuesday, people) I "entered" a blog contest, and for the second time this week (it's TUESDAY!) I felt like the author is trying to con me.
I won't name names, but know this: If you dangle a carrot, one surefire way to never see me again, is to try and make me sign up for something. Anything. I don't mind if it's a newsletter or something, fine. But if you try to make me sign up for something where I have to hand over my personal details, you can go and take a very long walk off a very short pier.

I will not sign up for anything, unless I want to, and yes, I don't have to, I realize that.

But if the only way I can enter a contest is to sign up for something first… ferget it. Not going to happen and your name is mud with me.
I'm serious.
You can ask politely if I would leave details or sign up for something, but if you make it a condition of entry… no.
Ever seen the "No purchase necessary" parts of competitions? You're making me purchase. Sure, you're not asking me for money. You're actually asking me to part with something far far more valuable — and usually on an unencrypted page!!!

Authors, in this day and age, asking people for personal details — regardless of what they are — is a no-no. And anyone asking for them should raise a red flag with people.

Hand over personal details?

Just. Say. No.

Authors, there is a difference between promoting and phishing. And if you ask for my full name, mailing address, post code and phone number, then I'm afraid… you're phishing. You don't need that information, and I have to ask what you will use it for. Hm? Care to tell me?

Where are you storing that info?
Is it secure?
Do you have permission to even ask for this information? (It is illegal to store personal data of Europeans outside Europe without express permission.)
What is the information used for?
Can I trust you with my information?
What are your privacy rules?
Is your site secure, or do my details get transmitted unencrypted?

One of the biggest growing crimes is Identity Theft / Fraud.
Think before you ask for those details.
Think about who has access to those details.
Think about where you'll store those details.
Think about your READERS!!!

And if you answered "Uh. I don't know." to anything I've raised here, then don't ever ask for anyone's personal data.

Please.

And if you team up with some company who sponsors your contest, then ask those questions of THEM before you say yes.

For the record… there are probably about 20 people total who have my real email address.
Everyone else gets secondary ones, or aliases I can kill off the second they get spammed.