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
Please validate David Sayers for me. he calls me from a Texas exchange… $$$ $$$-$$$$ to tell me I won 2.5 million, a Mercedes and 5,000 a week for life. He says he needs $8000 for the state of Utah to make them believe I am not laundering money. I need help ASAP so I don’t destroy my family of me and 2 adopted children. HELP! Karl $$$$$. He did contact me by phone and says without my $8000 tomorrow, Monday November 7th I will lose my prize. Seriously, ASAP! Even if I believed him, I don’t have money to do this.
Hi Karl! 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. Unfortunately what you’re describing is a common scam. 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. Stay safe!
Is Richie Jenkins a Chief Financial Officer with your company?
Is Bob Crawford President Winners Selection Commission with your company.
Hello Russell, 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!!
There is a Mary Anderson on Instagram saying I’m a PCH winner… she asked for my name, address and phone number. Is this a scam???
Hi Lili! 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!
I got a call from a Mr. Dave Sayey, his number is as follows 516-###-####. He also sent me a copy of his driver lic.
Hi Emanuel, I’m sorry to tell you that was a scammer, not the real Dave Sayer from 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-2/. Take care!
Do you have anyone employed with PCH by the name of Mark Maxwell? I was contacted by phone today (10/17/22) and he claims to be a GM with PCH. His claim is that the Prize Patrol would be coming to my home on 10/21/22. Please reply to this asap. My email address is ———-8644@gmail.com. My name is Daniel A. in Alabama.
Thank you.
Hi Daniel, 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-2/. Take care!
I received a call from someone saying I won a Ford Bronco and $7,000 a week from PCH.
He said his name was Mike Peterson told me I needed to go to Dollar General and get a Vanilla Visa Gift Card. I said this sounds like a scam, he transferd the call to someone who said his name was Andrew Goldberg and told me the samething.
The phone number was 973-606-6923 if you want to investigate this.
Hello Alan, 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!
What about having to purchase a one vanilla gift card for them to start putting money 💰 n and then they will send a agent out to your house to bring you your check and surprise you and they gave us a check number and a badge number for the agent
Hi Cody! That is definitely a scam. PCH would never request that you send money in order to claim a prize. Please report them 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!!
I got this text message…..
CongratulationsIn Advance if you got this message,Am Danielle Lam from the publisher clearing house office, USD lottery of the year 2022.?? Well We are here to inform you that you just won the sum of $750,000.00 USD kindly text Agent CHARLES THOMPSON +19033107174
NOTE:this is 100% real and legit and the government are aware of this lottery promo.. Dont brother to text Him if you are not ready thanks….. and claim your winnings okay
Hello Jessica! The real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via phone, text, 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!!
I have been getting text messages from 1 347 468-1377 phone number known as Agent Smith to give this person Name address personal information along with other info? I had to block them and delete them from my phone.
Hello Gavi! 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, text, 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.
I received a call/voicemail from Ray Walker claiming to be from PCH and asked me to call back at 702-996-2712 I did not call the number back.
I went directly to PCH website, and it appears that PCH does not call you… am I correct that this was a scam attempt?
Hello Melissa, 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!