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
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I would like to know who to contact for a order that I received that I am not very happy with. I ordered puzzles and they are not in satisfactory shape. I will never order anything else from this company again. PCH Order #$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Hi Geraldine! We are very sorry to hear that. In order for us to assist you with this we will need a bit more information. We kindly ask that you contact us at your convenience. Our customer service representatives may be reached at http://bit.ly/ContactPCH. You may also reach out by using our Digital Assistant that can be found at the link we provided. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Hello, someone name Michael keeps calling, saying he’s from PCH and I need 499.00. I know it a scam
Phone he called from (876) 710$$$$
(347) 696 $$$$.
Hello Sabrina, Here’s how to report scammers on Facebook: http://bit.ly/ReportPCHScamFB and all other scam contacts can be reported to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. It’s important to remember that the real PCH will never send you a private message or friend request, and or call you! We will also never ask for money to claim a prize. Stay safe everyone!
What if they contact you and tell you that you have won, all you need is valid ID# and you have to pay IRS.
Hello Cathy, That is definitely a scammer who contacted you! report them to PCH by completing a Scam Incident Report. Here’s how: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Check out this FAQ for info on how to stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay Safe!
I just got a PCH scam……filed a report!
I was contacted by a Kenneth M$$$$ from $$$ $$$ $$$$. He is supposed to call me back at 8:30 9:00 tomorrow. I’m sure this is going to be scam related. Is there anything you want me to do to try to identify them? Let me know. I’ll do what I can to help. Thank you.
Hi Steve! You’re right, that’s definitely a scammer. Please report all contacts from scammers to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. PCH does partner with the Federal Trade Commission and we send all scam reports to them so please make sure you let us know anytime a scammer contacts you. Remember, the real PCH never notifies major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask winners to pay to claim their prize. You can see more Safety Tips here: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Have a great weekend, and stay safe!
Dave Sayer is contacting me now and wants $800 to activate my debit card prize money. And an additional $1000 to do a credit repair on my truck payment, which my credit union has no knowledge of. Is he for real?
Hi Rick! Unfortunately that’s a scammer, NOT the real Dave Sayer. It’s important to remember that PCH does not contact winners of a major prize via phone, text, email, mail, or on Social Media. Also, if anyone asks you for money for any reason to claim a prize, you can be sure they’re a scammer. Please don’t give them any money, or any personal information! Scammers are very sneaky and will use our good name and reputation to try to deceive people. Stopping them is a team effort so please report any and all scam contacts you receive to PCH at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. We provide numerous videos, blogs, and tips to recognize these scammers here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection-2/. Stay safe!
Had a call from someone claiming to be PCH. They want $1545.00 for me to get my prize. I have names and telephone numbers.
1 Michael P$$$$$$ $$$ $$$ $$$$
2 Don C$$$$$ $$$ $$$ $$$$. Get these crooks. They also contacted my husband with the same scam.
Hi Joanne! 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!
Someone called me saying he was from Publisheres Clearing House and telling me I had won and he wanted me to give him $6000 for taxes on my winning. I told him he was a fraud and hung up. I deleted his number.
Hi Carol, we’re glad you could tell that was a scammer. Next time please report any 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!
I just had a scammer on the phone supposedly from PCH! They said I had won 8 million and a brand new Mercedes!! The call was from Oklahoma and I hung up!!!
Hi Leila, we’re glad you could tell that was a scammer calling you. Please report them 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!
I received a call from PCH saying I won $3.5 million and a 2023 Mercedes Benz. I was given instructions to leave my job and go to my house as they would be showing up with my prize. I work 45 min away. I was given information that I was to provide as confirmation. The information I was provided: Prize agent name: John Martin, Badge #$$$$$ ext 4, Prize pkg #, Prize claim #, license attorney Mary Lou who would be signing the paperwork, 2 state officials: Mark Spencer and John Jefferson. I was told the check would be from Bank Of America, I asked “John” if this was a scam, its odd that I would get phone call, he said the processed changed and winners were getting called. So. while I was driving to my house (I had to stay on the phone with him the whole time I was driving) John makes a comment, the check will not clear right away so I would be handed $500.000 cash and that I had to stop at a CVS or Walgreens to get a Claimers card. I told him, that any person that wins a large amount of money has to pay taxes on it. He states that this check is tax free. I refused to pick up the claimer card and he proceeds to tell me that I have to provide that or I will not get my prize. I told him that didn’t make any sense. I hung up on him and turned around to go back to work. Please let all be aware of this.
Hi Shanna, we’re sorry to see the scammers are bothering you. 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!