AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) - HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AT AN EVENT, YOU notice you're HUNGRY AND THEN YOU RANDOMLY GET AN ADD FOR a restaurant nearby? IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN GEO-FENCING.

TAKE THE SUPER BOWL OR EVEN AN EVENT AT THE JAMES BROWN ARENA-YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED GEO-FENCING AT WORK.

KEVIN WADE CEO of INTELLISYSTEMS says an example might be receiving A TEXT OFFERING A SPECIAL RATE ON INSURANCE.

“IF YOU’VE ATTENDED THE SUPER BOWL THIS SUNDAY AND A DAY LATER YOU GET A TEXT MESSAGE OR EMAIL THAT SAYS THANKS FOR ATTENDING THE SUPER BOWL, WE’VE GET A SPECIAL AT STATE FARM INSURANCE.”

WADE SAYS IT’S NOT THE GOVERNMENT SPYING ON yOU, BUT THEY DID KNOW YOU WERE AT THE EVENT.

Events like CONCERTS and FOOTBALL GAMES ARE opportunities FOR COMPANIES to use GEO-FENCING MARKETING.

“IF I’M A GEO-FENCING MARKETER, I CAN PIN-POINT THOSE CUSTOMERS AND I CAN OFFER SPECIAL THINGS TO THEM WHETHER IT’S FOOD OR DRINKs, MAYBE EVEN SPECIAL MERCHANDISE.”

BUT THERE ARE DOWNSIDES. If THEY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, THE HACKERS MIGHT TOO. SO IF YOU DO GET AN AD, VERIFY IT’S LEGIT, BEFORE YOU CLICK.

“I WOULD TELL SOMEONE TO VERIFY INDEPENDENTLY. IN ANOTHER WORDS, SURE THEY SAY YOU CAN GET THE PIZZAS FOR A REDUCED AMOUNT, BUT GET UP AND GO TO WHERE YOU BUY THE PIZZA AND JUST VERIFY THAT IT’S LEGIT.”

IF YOU DO HAVE THE OPTION TO OPT OUT OF ADVERTISEMENTS, WADE SAYS it CAN GIVE YOU THE opportunity TO ENJOY DEALS when you chose, WHILE ALSO STAYING SAFE.

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