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 just got a phone call from a man that said I won 2 and a half million dollars. He wanted me to send him a copy of my driver’s license. Of course I didn’t. Instead I did a little research and found out he was trying to scam me. Here’s his number in case you would like to check him out. 785-414-8960. This is the number he said to send a picture of my drivers license to. He’s trying to call me right now. Just thought I should let you know about this.
Hi Lesly! 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!
Do you have a guy named Russell B$$$$$ from International PCH? Please let me know. And do they ask for money, and have you sent it to someone else’s concern?
Hi Sandra! I’m sorry to tell you that was a scammer, NOT the real PCH. 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!!
I have the names and phone numbers of 3 people who claim they are from PCH and have 2,500,000.00 in a check for me along with a briefcase with 100,000.00 in it and a 2021 Mercedes Benz, but I need to pay the FIDC because my state has a limit on how much I can win.
Hello Geraldine, 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. Stay safe everyone!!
I just got a call from a Rev. John Peterson who said I have won $8.5 million. I need to get a Visa card for $495.00 and meet him at Walgreens where he will give me an $850,000 check and put $5,000 on my card.
Hello Dannie! 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!
PCH scammed me – I received a letter from them advising me that I had won the drawing held April 2022 – awarding me 18 million 500 thousand dollars plus 5000 per week for life and a new Mercedes car. To date, I have received nothing but lots of phone calls asking for gift cards and money, totaling $31,451.36. They are crooked and belong in prison! Be careful dealing with them – a year ago I was entering all of their contests and purchasing lots on their website – they wanted me to take a survey, If I didn’t, they were going to close my account and cancel my entries for the contests that were coming up – they didn’t like my answer to the survey and closed my account and had one of their IT people download a virus on my computer which ended up destroying it and I had to replace it. Guess they decided to pick on me again with the present scam! They need to be eliminated from the business world – magazines should get another source of distribution.
Hello Ferron! 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.
Good evening. I have a man that’s name is James that has contacted me about winning five million dollars. They have requested my So, you need to fill the information below in order for me to know that am dealing with the right winner and to complete your Winnings Documents;
Full Name,
Mailing Address,
Cellphone Number,
Occupation,
Email Address,
Selfie picture of you,
Anyone of your Government Approved Identity Card
Has anyone else had this happen.
Hello Dustin, 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 Dustin, Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Thank you!!
I have received a phone call saying I am a grand promotion SuperPrize winner from your Cash for Life promotion. I was told to call Richard Peterson at $$$ $$$-$$$$. Is this a scam?
Hi Linda! That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. Make sure to report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!
I have this guy calling me. He says he is a general manager with PCH and his name is Peter Johnson, and gave me his phone number. His security package number is PCH 0006030LL419. He told me the prize patrol will be here Wednesday to deliver my winnings of $5.8 million and I will also get the $7,000 a week for life and I am also going to get a 2022 Mercedes Benz with all leather interior. All I have to do is go to a CVS and purchase a Green Dot Scratcher Card for $500.00, then when I come back I will call him and give him the scratch off number on the back and tell him what I see there. I refused to give him the number and I told him I think this is a scam. He got mad and I hung up on him. He has called me back about 10 times, but I won’t answer.
Hi Linda! We’re so happy that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH who contacted you. We will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. We encourage everyone to review the following Safety Tips to better protect themselves from being scammed: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2
Hi Laura,
I just received a call from Dave Sayer. He gave me his office phone number, $$$ $$$-$$$$.The phone call showed up on my caller ID as a private name and private number. Dave said I had been sent a letter to notify me that I was a winner but I had not notified them back because I never received a letter because we had moved 2 years ago. I gave him my new address. Dave told me I had won 3.5 million dollars and a new 2022 Mercedes Benz car and $5,000.00 a week for the rest of my life. Dave stated the car and check would be delivered on Tues, 11/29/2022. Dave also asked me if I wanted this to be kept private or made public. Dave asked me to not tell my wife so this would be a surprise. Dave provided me with his Badge #$$$$ and a claim #$$$$$$$$. Dave did not ask for any personal, private information. Is this for real or a scam?
Hi Richard, that’s definitely a scammer. 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!
Laura, do you have an employee named Frank Walker? He says he is from Publishers Clearing House but the number he calls me from is area code 612 Minneapolis. I know you are in NY. He gave me a package ID number and I won 18.5 million dollars. I can use this card to buy at Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. Two people will be at my house Tuesday morning to deliver my package. Crazy and looks like a scam. How do companies hire these type of people?
Hello John! 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!