Hi blog readers! Have you ever received a message from someone who claims to work for PCH? Maybe the message notified you that you won a big prize. Maybe it told you that you needed to pay money to claim that prize. Unfortunately, these messages are Publishers Clearing House scams! They are not from the real Publishers Clearing House. We’ve done a lot here on the blog to try to alert you to these PCH scams, but we thought it might be helpful to provide you with some excerpts from actual scams that were sent by fraudsters illegally using the PCH name, in order to dupe you.
Before we get started, here are few important things to remember: You NEVER have to pay to claim a PCH prize. Winners of our larger prize award amounts are surprised in person by the Prize Patrol, NOT sent messages on Facebook or emails like this. Publishers Clearing House scams often have MANY spelling and grammatical errors. Try to read them out loud … you’ll see how nonsensical they sound. An official PCH message would not be written like that!
Let’s get started!
This message is not from PCH, it is a PCH SCAM! How can you tell?
For starters, none of the above or these contest details are legitimate. If you were to ask a PCH employee about a “Super Bucks Giveaway,” we would be quick to tell you it does not exist. Also, we are in no way associated with the U.S. Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission. AND if you were to use PCHSearch&Win to research that supposed government authority, you would find that it does not even exist in the U.S.
This message is not from PCH, it is a PCH SCAM! How can you tell?
Again, the grammar is off in many places. Just a few examples: “you are been advised,” and “your fund remitted to your account”. Plus, take a look at how the prize amount is written: “$1.200,000.00”. There’s a decimal instead of a comma after the “1”.
This message is not from PCH, it is a PCH SCAM! How can you tell?
They repeated the “this is part of our security protocol” sentence TWICE within the same paragraph! Also, PCH never asks you to keep quiet about your winnings. Quite the opposite! We’re always proudly posting pictures and videos of our winners! But the scammers want you to stay quiet so they can get your money without the authorities finding out.
This message is not from PCH, it is a PCH SCAM! How can you tell?
It’s easy! This message contains the BIGGEST red flag — it asks you to pay money to claim your prize. Remember: you NEVER have to pay or make any purchase to claim a prize from Publishers Clearing House. Also, if you ever hear/see the words “GREEN DOT MONEY PAK CARD” in a message from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, head for the hills! The scammers will take the account numbers from this card, cash the money you spent on it, and never award you the prize, because there never was a real prize — they are scammers.
There you have it folks. These are just a few ways you can spot PCH scams! As always, you should always verify the information in any winner notification you may receive before making any risky moves. And if you ever have any questions, let us know!
Stay safe everyone!
Laura Wolfe @ PCH
I have heard from three people calming to be from Publishers Clearing House
one said I had won 8.5 million but I had to pay Texas o the money first
5500 to claim my winning so I went to bank to verify my winnings only to
find it was a scam. later that same week I got another phone call saying
I had won 5.5 million and they needed 599.00 to claim my prize so I
contacted PCH and found out it was a scam.
John
Hello John, 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!!
A man claiming to be from PCH named John Petersen called my home saying I had won 5 million dollars & to call 607-862-8034, to get information on the prize. I called the original number he called on & he said he was Dave Sayer & John Pedersen was the agent ###-###-8384. He wanted me to go to CVS or walmart to get a card for $250.00 before i would get $7000.00 a week every Thursday.
I told him i was old and broke and had to pass up the prize.
Catherine W
Hi Catherine! 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.
My husband had been receiving calls from a Tom who claims to be from Chad and that he had won 2.5 million and a new car how do I verify this they keep asking for our address
Hi Debra, that is not the real PCH calling your husband; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not give the scammer any personal info including your address, 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!
Good evening . My name is Gary S, 80 years young, and I have happily enjoyed this years PCL program since last April. On June 16, I suddenly noticed the e-mails with a light colored orange and there was no way to see the actual PCL cleaning nor have anything to do. I don’ know what happened as described. Today my Apple person said he thought it sounded like the scam people get hit from fake PCL. I will see the Apple people on Tuesday (Monday Holiday) to see what we have. This is important to me , but I must say, if that is going around it is a shame to others take high interest.
Thank you for listening!
Hi Gary! Thank you for contacting PCH. In order for us to assist you with your question we will need a bit more information. We kindly ask that you contact us by phone at your convenience. Our customer service representatives may be reached at http://bit.ly/ContactPCH between Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 11 PM & Saturday 8:30 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time. We look forward to hearing from you.
I received an email today stating they were Danielle Liam from publishers clearing house and they emailed me, they said it was at their discretion from straight from Andrew somebody a big corporate person and that I have won the publishers clearing house. I told them they were scamming me, and they insisted they were Danielle. It came straight from an Instagram that stated she was glad to hear from me and to keep playing, and then all of sudden she said I won and needed to confirm with whomever.
Hi Maria! 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!
Yes
I was told I won 4 1/2 million last night from a person who emailed me a PCH letter head plus an IRS form . They stated that I would need to open a checking account in the morning and will call back in the morning. Also stated that it will not cost me anything.
Hello Ronald, 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: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe everyone!!
All I get are scammers that’s it I played the games got promises never kept but it was nice for a while Baila dream while is in the hospital but once you get out the hospital reality hit shoes square in the face
Hello Paul, 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!!
Thank you. I have received a message from Ray. This is very helpful for me. Be careful.
Tracking old and new to do with my name? Also who’s tagged to my Gmail.plus who else is hacking?