‘I won £18k after entering prize draw for 3 months and haven’t seen a penny’

A 31-year-old HGV driver was devastated when what he thought would be a dream come true quickly turned into a nightmare.

Dafydd Bayliss from Blackwood, South Wales, was overjoyed in September when he won a BMW M3 or £18,000 cash in an online competition hosted by Level Up Giveaways.

As a first-time buyer on the brink of completing his house purchase, Mr Bayliss opted for the cash prize, intending to use it for a new kitchen and bathroom.

However, three months later, he has yet to see a penny of his winnings.

Mr Bayliss, who had participated in Level Up Giveaways’ prize draws for three years, said he was elated when he found out her had won.

He said: “I was over the moon.” But that joy was short-lived.

Despite assurances from the company’s director, Anton Hall, that the money would be transferred within days, Mr Bayliss is still waiting.

After weeks of sparse communication and unfulfilled promises, Mr Bayliss told the BBC he has “kind of given up.”

His optimism has dwindled to just a “5% chance” of ever receiving the prize. He admitted: “I have just gone numb to it.”

He is not alone in his frustration. Several winners have come forward, claiming they have been left in the dark by the Sowerby Bridge-based competitions company, which appears to have ceased operations.

Level Up Giveaways’ website went offline in mid-December, and the firm has stopped paying out prizes, reportedly totaling tens of thousands of pounds.

Scott Boyle, an insurance broker from Wakefield, is among those affected. After winning £1,200 to be paid in installments, he received only five months’ worth of payments before they abruptly stopped.

Mr Boyle said: “It’s disgusting. If I had won a larger amount, I’d be absolutely devastated.”

Other winners, including Manchester-based Phill Harkins, who won a 20g gold bar, and Belfast restaurant manager Mark McCorry, who won £600 cash, have shared similar stories of unpaid prizes and unresponsive communications.

Despite receiving seven complaints about Level Up Giveaways since 2022, Trading Standards West Yorkshire said they are not investigating the company due to limited resources.

Action Fraud, the national reporting center for fraud in the UK, has also been contacted, but no significant action has been reported.

Founded in 2019, Level Up Giveaways claims to have awarded £5 million in prizes to over 5,000 winners. While its social media platforms and Trustpilot reviews once showcased glowing testimonials, recent reviews tell a different story.

In a video update posted on 6 December, Mr Hall attributed the delays to personal and business challenges, apologizing for the “lack of communication.” He claimed he intended to resume operations but gave no timeline for fulfilling past promises.

For winners like Mr Bayliss, the excuses are wearing thin.

He said: “He hasn’t said what’s actually going on. It’s more just like smoke and mirrors.”