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How To Spot Publishers Clearing House (PCH) Scams!

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

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Comments

  1. I just received this text. I have been a PCH fan since the days of mailers with stamps for magazines that you applied to the order form.
    Therefore, I was familiar with Dave Sayers name.

    Go after these fraudsters ASAP!

    19295129102 Deposited a new message:
    “Hello, pleasant greetings. My name is Dave Sayers from the publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes Company. I am pleased to officially announce you as the 3rd place winner of a cash prize and a brand new Mercedes Benz car. Congratulations on your winnings and welcome to financial freedom. The publishers Clearing House Team has made all necessary arrangements in order for you to receive your winnings. Please to contact the claiming department at phone number. $$$$$$$$$$. Once more. The number is $$$$$$$$$$. Your package number is $$$$ U. S. Please contact us today. Thank you.”
    Click here: $$$$$$$$$$ to listen to full voice message.

    1. Hi Barry! 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. Stay safe!

  2. Aagghh this is Tawna again my PCH is erased Im using this phone to downloaded ur app so this is my only communication. I have to have play games sent from you to b able to play.
    Thank you

    1. Hello Tawna, thank you for contacting PCH. We are sorry to hear that you are experiencing technical difficulties on our website. Please reach out to our technical support representatives here: http://bit.ly/ContactPCH, we are open 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.

  3. Hi Amanda! That is definitely a scammer who contacted you! PCH will never send friend requests, private messages, or winner notifications via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc; we also never ask for money to claim a prize. Do not give this person any personal information and certainly do not send them any money!! Instead, report them to PCH by completing a Scam Incident Report. Here’s how: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Check out this FAQ for info on how to stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!

    1. Hello Tawna, 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.

  4. I received a call from PCH indicating the I won a prize because I was a long-time subscriber and that was the reason for my 2nd place prize award. Person said his name was Dave Sayer and he sent me PCH material that looked legit. I called Bank of America as he told me and gave the account number and pin . It was verified that the amount was in “my” account. I was told that I would need to send money for a Golden Eagle Stamp issued by the US Dept of State. All of the contacts seemed very legitimate. I am assuming a scam because of the request to buy this Stamp.

  5. I am still needing help. This guy name Paul Jerlson is still in my account and sweepstake picks.Please take care of this matter for me.-Thank You-Dennis C., I did get a call from your stating I was being hacked. My phone is ###-###-####.

    1. Hello Dennis, ​​​​​​in order to assist you with this matter, we ask that you please reach out to our Customer Service team. Our Customer Service Representatives are available to assist you Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 11 PM & Saturday 8:30 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time: https://bit.ly/ContactPCH. We look forward to hearing from you!

  6. Publishers_Clearing_House

    publishers_clearing_house85 Instagram 0 followers 0 posts

    New Instagram account

    VIEW PROFILE

    2:17 PM

    Hello

    Russell

    PCH

    How are you doing today

    Sent from Instagram

    You blocked messages and calls from Publishers_Clearing_House

    (publishers_clearing_house85) You can’t message or call publishers_clearing_house85 in this chat, and you won’t receive their messages or calls.

    1. Hi Patricia, 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. Stay safe!

  7. i recieved a letter saying i won 2.200.000.oo and to call 1 845 288 2778 mr will duncan .i called he is not american. he asked me for my drivers licence number to see if it was me. he said he will call me back .he did not .i called him.he said uncle sam is preparing my check.

    1. Hi Dale, 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!