Accessibility Statement

PCH Warns: Beware Of Publishers Clearing House Phone Scams!

Can you spot a Publishers Clearing House phone scam? Take this “quick quiz” and find out.

Imagine you’re at home and you get a call from someone who tells you he is from Publishers Clearing House. He says you have won $500,000.00, but in order to claim your prize, you first need to wire him a $300.00 delivery fee. What do you do?

A. Hang up!
B. Report this person to the authorities.
C. Wire him the money. After all, $500,000.00 is at stake!

I’m hoping that all of our PCH friends know that the correct answers are A and B ― NEVER C! And if you didn’t get the answer correct, then keep reading because this is very important.

PCH does not call our winners in advance. In fact, if you’re named a BIG PCH winner, you’ll find out when you open your door and see the Prize Patrol standing there holding a “Big Check” with YOUR NAME on it!

More importantly, PCH NEVER asks our winners for any money in order to claim a prize. It’s because the Publishers Clearing House name is so well known and trusted, that fraudsters use it to attempt to scam unsuspecting people out of money.

Just recently, an Arkansas woman received a call from a man claiming he was with Publishers Clearing House. He told her that she had won $1.5 million and a brand new car, but first she would have to pay a fee of $500.00 before she could receive the money and the car. Fortunately, this smart lady knew to call the police and not give the fraudster one cent!

Unfortunately, some seniors are not as lucky ― or as well informed.  Earlier this year an 80-year-old Chicago grandfather was conned out of several thousands of dollars by fraudulent criminals who claimed he had won $5 Million from Publishers Clearing House. The scammer repeatedly kept asking him to wire money for “shipping and handling and safe delivery.”

Don’t risk letting this happen to you. Remember these important A, B, C’s.

A. PCH awards are Absolutely free! Publishers Clearing House will NEVER ask you to pay to enter or collect a prize award.

B. PCH and our Prize Patrol will not Buzz you on the phone if you’ve won a SuperPrize!

C. Fraudsters may Claim to be with Publishers Clearing House ― but Call the authorities if you suspect any wrongdoing.

You can also fill out a Scam Incident Report if you think someone is trying to scam you using the PCH name.

Protect yourself and stay safe!

Elaina R.
PCH Online Creative

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Comments

  1. I was called today by a Michael Bradley claiming to be the general manager of Publishers Clearing House and also a pastor they told me I was born 5.5 million dollars, five thousand dollars a week for life and the new car.

  2. John Martin left a message saying he was from PCH and I had won $90,000. I asked for confirmation and he texted back asking what I needed for confirmation. I haven’t responded except to say that I would be happy to pick the money up myself.

    1. Hi Rob! I’m sorry to tell you that was a scammer, not the real PCH. It’s important to remember that PCH does not contact winners of a major prize via phone, text, email, mail, or on Social Media. Also, if anyone asks you for money for any reason to claim a prize, you can be sure they’re a scammer. Please don’t give them any money, or any personal information! You can report them to us at this link: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. We provide numerous videos, blogs, and tips to recognize these scammers here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!

  3. Reverend James Freeman is calling me from $$$ $$$-$$$$, saying I won and to get a blank cashiers check to register with the IRS? Is this a scam?

  4. I’m the only one who ever enters PCH in my household and today my husband received a bunch of calls from a ‘Mr. Sankeys’ (sp) from (406)415-7090 claiming he had won $50,000 and wanted to schedule when to deliver the check to our house. Citing the call is because of covid restrictions. I figured when in doubt, go to the source.

    1. Hello Brenda, Please report all contacts from scammers to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. PCH does partner with the Federal Trade Commission and we send all scam reports to them so please make sure you let us know anytime a scammer contacts you. Remember, the real PCH never notifies major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask winners to pay to claim their prize. You can see more Safety Tips here: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim.

  5. I received a group text from 619-713-4887 that said:
    Good news!! I want to inform you from the desk of Publisher’s Clearing House (PCH) that you’re randomly pick and eligible to claim up to $264,000 or more as your name was drawn electronically and you’re picked randomly as one of the lucky winners on our ongoing program. It’s free you don’t have to pay for any fees, You’re to text +15107221429 to claim your winnings.

      1. update:!!!!
        A text response came in saying:
        “Welcome to the desk of Mr. Jack Martin, I’m in Charge of your winnings from the Publishers Clearing House (PCH), NOTE! You’re not to send any money to anyone to claim your winnings, You’ll receive a mail to notify you.
        Kindly get back with your full name and address to confirm your name on the system.”

        —–
        Please let me know how I should respond.
        Separately:
        And whether the PCH mail I have here is also a scam operation using PCH’s good name to fool me – or a prize is forthcoming after processing has been done and numbers have matched after being send over in a timely manner .

      2. Hi Casey! Thank you very much for reporting the scammers that have contacted you. Stopping them is a team effort and we are happy that you are doing your part. While it may be tempting, we don’t encourage you to interact with them any more than is minimally necessary. Simply tell them that you know they’re not the real PCH and hang up or disconnect your mode of contact with them. To stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook, check out this PCH Blog article: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. As a reminder, you can report scammers to PCH at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Be careful and stay safe everyone!!

  6. THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION: Today I was called from a scammer proclaimed to be David White from PCH asking all kinds of questions and wanting $2500.00’s for taxes and fee’s. Thank goodness I didn’t give him any personal info. He left a code and phone # saying the prize patrol was coming today ‘lol haven’t seem them yet!! He had a heavy accent’ not American. But the call came in from California…

    1. Hello Nancy, 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

  7. THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION: Today I was called from a scammer proclaimed to be David White from PCH asking all kinds of questions and wanting $2500.00’s for taxes and fee’s. Thank goodness I didn’t give him any personal info. He left a code and phone # saying the prize patrol was coming today ‘lol haven’t seem them yet!! He had an accenting American. But the call came in from California…

  8. I just received a phone message that I was a PCH winner.
    They left a six digit code, an 888 phone number and the hours that they could be contacted.

    1. Hello C, that is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. If you haven’t already done so, please report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!

  9. These two numbers are used person claiming to be Michael Bradley from Publishers Clearing House keeps calling my wife and wanting her to proceed that he is part of Publishers Clearing House to award her 500 million and a brand new white Mercedes.

    1. Hello Jenny, We’re so glad that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH. As you know, the Prize Patrol will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via social media, standard mail, email, or phone. Please report any details you have about this scammer to PCH here: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. You can also check out this PCH Blog for ways to stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe and protect yourselves from becoming scam victims!!