Publishers Clearing House is the REAL deal― a legitimate sweepstakes company that has awarded more than $225 Million in Cash and Prizes so far! Unfortunately, sometimes criminals try to cash in on our good name and trick unsuspecting people like you with Publishers Clearing House Scams. While they may be convincing, here are 5 foolproof ways to know for sure if an offer is from the REAL PCH — or if it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam.
1. If you’re required to wire or pay any amount of money in order to claim a prize, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam. PCH sweepstakes are ALWAYS FREE to enter, and there is never any fee associated with winning.
2. If you’re asked to load up a Green Dot MoneyPak or other money transfer card, in exchange for claiming your prize, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam. Again, PCH will NEVER ask you to pay a cent to collect a prize.
3. If someone tries to contact you in advance regarding a prize delivery, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam! After all, that would ruin the surprise! For decades, our Prize Patrol has captured the elated reactions of surprised winners and used them in our nationally-televised commercials. You’ll know you’re a big PCH winner if you see the Prize Patrol at your front door holding a “Big Check” with your name on it!
4. If someone calls you on the telephone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House and says you have won, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam. Do NOT give them any personal information! As stated above, the Prize Patrol awards all our Big Prizes in person and would never call you to update any personal information in our files.
5. If someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House tries to send you a friend request on Facebook, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam. Even if they are using the name and photo of a prominent PCH employee ―do NOT believe them. Our PCH employees and official PCH Prize Patrol Fan pages will never private message you on Facebook.
So fans, keep these 5 tips in mind, and you’ll be protected against Publishers Clearing House Scams. If you have more questions about whether something is legitimate or a scam, please visit our FAQ page. And if you’ve been contacted by a scammer, please fill out a Scam Incident Report.
And remember, you can’t WIN if you’re not IN! So, keep entering the PCH Sweepstakes daily.
All the best!
Elaina R.
PCH Online Creative
P.S. If you found this post helpful, why not SHARE it with a friend?
Someone keeps calling from this number: $$$ $$$-$$$$, and says I won $7,000 a month, a Mercedes, and other things. I need to call and give my I.D. to them, nope I don’t think so.
Hi there! That’s definitely a scammer, NOT the real PCH. Please report all contacts from scammers to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. PCH does partner with the Federal Trade Commission and we send all scam reports to them so please make sure you let us know anytime a scammer contacts you. Remember, the real PCH never notifies major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask winners to pay to claim their prize. You can see more Safety Tips here: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe!
Trying to report on a scam but your link to fill out a Scam Incident Report doesn’t work!
Hi Joe, I’m sorry to hear you are having some difficulty filling out your report. Have you tried clearing your cookies and cache? This might solve the issue you’re having. Here are the instructions on how to do that: https://bit.ly/Clear-Cookies-Cache. If you need additional assistance, please feel free to contact us! Our Customer Service Representatives are available to assist you right here: http://bit.ly/ContactPCH. Let me know if you need anything else!
Have been repeatedly contacted. First for husband recently deceased, then for self. He said he was David Sayers, and was very upset I was clueless. I won 1.5 million. Code $$$$$, just send $2145 to cover IRS fees, asked me to reach him twice a day at $$$ $$4-$$$$, until I am able to send.
Hi Julie! I’m sorry to tell you that was a scammer pretending to be Dave Sayer, not the real Dave Sayer from our Prize Patrol. It’s important to remember that PCH does not contact winners of a major prize via phone, text, email, mail, or on Social Media. Also, if anyone asks you for money for any reason to claim a prize, you can be sure they’re a scammer. Please don’t give them any money, or any personal information! You can report them to us at this link: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. We provide numerous videos, blogs, and tips to recognize these scammers here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection-2/. Stay safe!
I just got a phone call stating I won, they want me to buy a gift card at the store costing 100$.
Hi Janett! That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. Make sure to report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe!
I received a phone call today (13 Feb 2023) from a fellow who identified himself as:
DAVID S$$$$$$$$$, CEO OF PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE, BADGE #$$$$$$$$$,
PCH $$$$$$$$$$,
REF# USA$$$$$$$$$$
BAR CODE# US$$$$$$$$$$
Hi Elvin! That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. Make sure to report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe!
On February 11, 2023, I received a voice mail from $$$ $$$-$$$$ advising that I was a winner & to call the Publishers Clearing House’s executive office at $$$ $$$-$$$$ & give them a code number to claim my prize. I figure it’s a scam.
Hi Sue! You’re right – unfortunately that is a scammer that contacted you. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. Please report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!
Received call today advising I had won a prize, and to call $$$ $$$-$$$ and use winning code $$$$.
Hi Ronald! That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. If you haven’t already done so, please report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!
I was contacted today by a man calling himself Bob P$$$$$$$$, claiming I won $5000 a week for life, a new BMW, a $5 million cashiers check, and a gas card for 21 years of free gas. He said he would be calling me back to let me know what fees I would need to pay in order to claim my prize. He said his badge # is P$$$$$ and prize #is $$$$. The # he called from was $$$ $$$-$$$$ it all sounded to good to be true so I am reaching out to you just to let you know.
Hi Lori! That’s definitely a scammer, NOT the real PCH. 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.
I have been contacted twice by two different male voices on the phone claiming to be Dave Sayer from Publishers Clearing House, and claiming that I was a first place winner. In order to claim my winnings I needed to pay the taxes on the winnings, because the IRS gets involved at this point and will want the taxes BEFORE the winnings can be distributed…. how can this kind of scam be stopped?
Hi Anita, we’re sorry to hear the scammers are bothering you. Scammers are very sneaky and will use our good name and reputation to try to deceive people; stopping them is a team effort so please report any and all scam contacts you receive to PCH at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I also encourage you to take a look at this PCH Blog for info on how you can stop scammers from contacting you: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Have a great day, and stay safe!
I received a phone call claiming to be for $2.5 mil and a 2023 Tesla. First of all, I don’t like Tesla. Seriously, it was a Denver # saying United States.
Hello Margie! 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!