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Publishers Clearing House Scam Buster Tips

Publishers Clearing House scam warning: Beware fake check scams are on the rise! At PCH – as with any legitimate sweepstakes company – the winning is always free!

Publishers Clearing House scam warning:  Beware fake check scams are on the rise!

Fake check schemes, where consumers are lured into accepting phony checks in return for sending or wiring cash to a fraudster, can prove costly to unsuspecting consumers.  These check scams are the most frequently reported scam complaints.  And, many use “sweepstakes” as a ruse – telling victims they have won millions of dollars but must first pay taxes or other fees out of the advance check, before they can claim the rest of the prize.  Don’t believe it!  At Publishers Clearing House – as with any legitimate sweepstakes company – the winning is always free!

In these difficult economic times, Publishers Clearing House Scam Busters want to remind you to be wary of sweepstakes offers that may sound too good to be true.  Many consumers are looking for new and different ways to make ends meet and may be tempted to believe an offer they would otherwise not even consider.

Here are three very important tips to avoid getting scammed:

  1. If someone sends you a check and asks you to send money back in return, don’t! – If you are told you have won a prize and are asked to cash a check and send or wire money back, do not! The check is a fake.  Legitimate sweepstakes will never ask you to pay a fee to claim a prize.
  2. If the company name sounds familiar or legitimate and you assume you can trust it, think again!  – Scammers oftentimes use the names of legitimate companies in an attempt to deceive and gain consumers trust.  Criminals will pretend to be affiliated with well-known, recognized and trusted brand names.  Always contact the legitimate company and talk to one of their representatives.
  3. If someone asks you to wire money to claim a sweepstakes prize, don’t!Most scammers will advise consumers to wire money via a money-transfer service.  Con-artists want money sent to them via a money-transfer service because it’s quick, it’s cash and it’s virtually impossible to trace and recover.  Wiring money is like sending cash and once it’s gone, it’s usually gone.

As members of the Consumer Federation of America’s Fake Check task force which runs under the auspices of the National Consumers League, we work together to reduce these scams. At PCH we take consumer protection and the fraudulent use of our good name very seriously and go to great lengths to combat these scams and protect our customers.  You can read more at http://help.pch.com/consumer.

Remember, at Publishers Clearing House, the winning is always free.  If you are ever asked to send or wire money to claim a sweepstakes prize, you are being scammed. It’s just that simple! If you believe you have been the victim of a fraudulent contact using the name of Publishers Clearing House, please fill out a Scam Incident Report.   If you receive a suspicious email fraudulently claiming to be from PCH, PCHLotto or PCHSearch&Win, please fill out a Scam Incident Report.

Visit us online at www.pch.com and click on our Customer Service/Info Center for more sweepstakes scam protection tips!

 

 

 

Margaret Crossan

PCH Consumer Affairs Department

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Comments

  1. Some one by the name of Michael has called me stating that I won $17,000.000.00 million dollars from Publishers Clearing House and $5,000.00 a week for life. Could you please confirm.

  2. An old friend texted me and said he applied for a government empowerment program and to apply click on link, the link was to Facebook user was Agent Frank Smith, underneath said grocery store but it says from PCH, my friend said he received $100,000 after paying a clearance fee. I’m pretty sure they’re both trying to scam me, some friend, I’m deleting all contacts with him, Jim Rockford and supposed agent Frank Smith.

    1. Hi Lisa! Yes, sadly that is a scam. The real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via text, phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. Please report any details you have about that scam contact to us at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I also encourage you to check out these Safety Tips for some great info on what to watch for: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe everyone!!

  3. I received an email from a friend saying my name is on a PCH list and I am to email Mary Smith to claim my prize. Idid and received this email back:
    FULL NAME:

    FULL HOME ADDRESS:

    AGE:

    OCCUPATION:

    TELEPHONE NO:

    EMAIL ADDRESS:

    CASH OR CHEQUE:

    MONTHLY INCOME :

    YOUR PHOTOGRAPH :

    ANSWER IT ON HERE NOW

    KINDLY FILL OUT THE FORM NOW SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED

    1. Hi Judy! I’m sorry to tell you that is a scammer phishing for personal information. The real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money or personal information like that. Please report any details you have about that scam contact to us at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I also encourage you to check out these Safety Tips for some great info on what to watch for: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe everyone!!

  4. If you want person or persons posing as Jeff Ronald I will allow you to use home as bait in sting operations he is asking me for money to claim PCH grant money I’m in nm. He is currently trying to scam me

  5. I’ve been scammed…almost. Michael Anderson (with a strong foreign accent) has called me 5 times claiming I won $2.5 million and a BMW. Wants me to register a $199. “Registration card” at Walmart so he can release my check. I don’t think so! 🥴

    1. Hello Priscilla, we’re so happy that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH who contacted you. We will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. We encourage everyone to review the following Safety Tips to better protect themselves from being scammed: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2

  6. Just received this information Agent-Jerry Miller- 100289405995786/?ref=bookmarks&_rdc=11&_rdr
    My aunt claims that this person awarded her $1000.000.00 I am trying to tell her that this is a scam, she won’t listen, could some please post information regarding this issue she is over 80 years old. Thank