How to Enter Tech Giveaways in Virginia Beach, Virginia Without Scams
See why TECH 100 is closed, who may apply to VA STAR, and which prize requests should make you stop.
As of August 18, 2026, the closest documented Virginia Beach tech giveaway is not open: Tech For Troops has closed applications for its August 22 TECH 100 event. To enter future offers safely, use a sponsor page you locate independently, read the rules, and never pay or provide financial details to claim a prize. A giveaway distributes free items, while a sweepstakes awards prizes by chance.
Virginia Beach also has an eligibility-based computer program for qualifying public-school families, but applying is not the same as winning a public contest.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on August 18, 2026.
Is TECH 100 still open?
No. The Tech For Troops TECH 100 page says applications are closed. The event planned to distribute 100 refurbished laptops to eligible Virginia active-duty military members and veterans.
Applicants needed proof of military status and had to collect the computer in person in Virginia Beach. The limit was one laptop per family, and registration did not guarantee a computer. Treat any message claiming it can still secure a TECH 100 place with caution.
Verify the claim through contact information you find on the organization's website, not through links or phone numbers supplied in the message.
Can school families apply for a computer?
Virginia Beach City Public Schools families without a functioning home desktop or laptop can apply to VA STAR. According to the Virginia Beach Education Foundation's VA STAR page, the program distributes refurbished computers to eligible families. The student must attend Virginia Beach City Public Schools, and a parent or guardian must participate in an information session.
Check those conditions before submitting personal information. An application is an eligibility request, not a chance-based sweepstakes or a guaranteed computer.
How should you check a new giveaway?
The Federal Trade Commission warns that prize messages can impersonate real companies or contain malicious links. Its prize and sweepstakes guidance also notes that legitimate promoters may sell entrant information to advertisers. Before entering: Free entry means a chance to win, not a guaranteed device.
Even a legitimate entry may result in promotional email, mail, advertising, or telemarketing.
- Find the sponsor's website yourself instead of following an unsolicited link.
- Read the complete rules, eligibility terms, deadline, and collection requirements.
- Confirm that entry is free and that paying cannot improve your odds.
- Leave if someone demands taxes, shipping, or processing fees to release a prize.
- Do not provide bank details, card numbers, or a Social Security number to claim it.
Where can Virginia residents report a suspicious offer?
Stop communicating if a prize request includes payment or sensitive financial information. Do not attempt to verify it through the sender's link or telephone number; use independently located sponsor contact details. Virginia residents can select "Sweepstakes" in the Virginia Attorney General's complaint directory.
Include the promotion's name, the message you received, and the payment or information requested.