The name Publishers Clearing House is such a well recognized brand, welcomed and trusted in so many homes, that it is often illegally used by scam artists in an attempt to fraudulently con consumers for the sole purpose of soliciting cash. PCH would like to remind you to BEWARE OF SCAMS posing as legitimate sweepstakes. Scammers may email you or send you a letter ‘claiming’ to be from Publishers Clearing House. Oftentimes, scammers may send out real-looking checks in an attempt to get you to send money. Using a variety of false promises, the scammers will ultimately ask you to send money in order to claim a non-existent prize. If you receive such a contact, DO NOT send or wire money! At Publishers Clearing House the winning is always FREE and it is never necessary to pay any money to enter or win our famous PCH Sweepstakes!
PCH has been actively attacking scams like these working with law enforcement and undertaking a number of comprehensive consumer protection programs. From an educational standpoint we have posted alerts in our mail and on our website at pch.com. We have recorded anti-scam messages on our toll-free customer service lines reminding all callers that if it is not free it is not a legitimate prize. We ask consumers to provide us details of the scams and PCH keeps track of these reported incidents through a comprehensive anti-scam database. Working closely with law enforcement and consumer protection groups, we continually share information with these valued partners in an effort to assist in targeting scammers and attempting to bring them to justice. Among others, PCH has worked closely with the Federal Trade Commission, Postal Inspection Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the US Attorney’s Office. We are also pleased to be a member of the Consumer Federation of America’s Fake Check Task Force that brings together leading industry, consumer protection and not-for-profit groups to brainstorm on efforts to target and reduce these scams.
PCH is pleased to add a new weapon in the fight against fraud by becoming a designated contributor to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Database Network. Consumer Sentinel, maintained by the FTC, is a secure online database of consumer complaints available only to law enforcement. Law enforcement officials from all around the country use the information in this national database to enhance and coordinate sweepstakes fraud investigations. Publishers Clearing House is proud to be one of a select group of corporate entities that contributes to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Database!
Remember, if you receive a contact from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, and you are asked to send or wire money to claim a prize, DO NOT! If you believe you have been the victim of a fraudulent contact using the name of Publishers Clearing House, please report it using our Scam Incident Report.
At PCH we care about consumers and are committed to helping you stay safe, informed and protected!
Sincerely,
Margaret Crossan
PCH Consumer Affairs Department
Hello I received a real check (bank confirmed but not cashed) from PCH saying I won a sum of money, and this was to cover my lawyer fees, I also have a confirmation number and a phone number to call. Is this legit ?
Hi Adam, I’m sorry to tell you that’s a scam. 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 call that number, and 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!
Two of them fake two agents get me scammed $500 gift card apple.
Hello David, We’re so happy that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH who contacted you. The real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Stay safe everyone!
#19990 Yes PCH, for two days I got phone calls with a different name and number. Yes, they said I won $850.000.00 and a Mercedes Benz car. I was to get a $300.00 pre paid card from Walmart and they would give me the car, but when I told them that PCH does not phone you if you won and they hung up. I called the scammers and told them I sure did have a good laugh. Watch out for scammers, THANKS PCH!
Hi Rebecca, we’re glad you could tell those were scammers. We recommend that you don’t call them back, as tempting as it may be. Instead, please report them to us here: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Thank you! Have a great day, and stay safe!
Received email on PCH fraud with an attachment. I would like to forward it to you. I called in a telephone fraud earlier today under name of Robert M, $$$ $$$$$$$$ Ave, Medford, NY $$$$$$. I need an email to send too.
Hi Robert! Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Thank you!!
I received a text message from a Pamela Sessions claiming I’m a $90,000.00 winner in an on going sweepstakes program and that I should contact the agent in charge.
Agent in charge is: Mark Thompson. Phone# 845-###-####. Email: @gmail.com.
I have not contacted anyone on this. I’m assuming this is a scam. Any insight would be appreciated .
Hi Mike, that is definitely a scammer and not the real 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!
Omar Tyler called and said it will be 500.00 to reserve the payout and 300.00 for storage
Hello Richard, the real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via 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!!
call 516-273-7858 winner code #85647 to call 1-866-205-5985 to claim call back from607-638-7634 told them it was a joke and the said they needed $7000.00 to claim prize I told then to give it to someone else
Hello Donna, 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 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!
“Hmmm- can’t reach this page” when tempting to report a fraudulent contact using your “Scam Incident Report”
Hello Marty, The real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via 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!!
Hello, I received a call from PCH stating that I was the monthly winner of price award that was approved by the FTC. They also provided me with a claim code number. The phone# was 1(888)984-1201. Is this real or a scam? They also stated that the price patrol was cancel due to Covid-19 until further notice!
Hello Roberto, 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!
I received the following in m SPAM email. in your opinion is this something that PCH would ask for?
Thank you for your help,
Publishers Clearing House Inc
Winners Selection Notification.
This email address has won (USD 850,000.00) in the recent Publishers Clearing House global
Sweepstakes E-mail Draws. To file for a claim, you are hereby required to fill in the required details
below and send them to the contest department email: onlineclaims@gmx.de
*Given Name***
*Residential/Office Address***
*Telephone***
*Gender***
*Age***
——————————————————————-
© Copyright 2022 Publishers Clearing House Inc. All Rights Reserved
Hello James, please be aware PCH does not alert major prize winners through email, we also don’t request any payment to receive a prize. Please report the scam email you received 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: http://bit.ly/PCH-Safety-Tips. Stay safe everyone!!