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?
Your link for reporting scams isn’t working. However, I thank you for posting this information as I was contacted by someone, via phone, claiming that I had won a huge amount of money from PCH and wanted to make arrangements for me to be home to receive the check and everything. I was very skeptical and put them off for the next day. Your blog post just confirms this. Thank you.
I was contacted by someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House. It even came up as PCH on my caller id. He claimed I would not have to give them ANY money. He asked me if I would rather if they sent me a certified check or to open a new bank account but put no money in it and they would wire the funds. This is the 2nd call I received this month telling me I won millions only to be told I would have to send them money for shipping fees. Im glad I saw this article and know to just hang up in the future so Thank you.
Thank-you for this confirmation. I received a phone call and an email letter trying to convince me that it was real but they wanted me to pay $4,500 as an upfront FDIA cost before granting me the check for $2.5 million. I stopped to verify this and found your information. I really appreciate your providing this information online!
Hi Monica, you’re very welcome. Just so everyone knows, you never have to pay a fee to claim a prize you may have won from PCH, for any reason. It’s important to know also that PCH does not contact winners of a major prize privately via phone, text, email, mail, or on Social Media. If anyone asks you for money for any reason to claim a prize, you can be sure they’re a scammer. You can read more about these kinds of scams here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. If you do have a scammer contact you please report them to us at this link: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Have a great day everyone, and stay safe!
This morning I received a call from a woman claiming to represent PCH. She tried to convince me that I’d won $5 million as the 2nd place winner. I told her I thought she was a scammer.
Hi Wanda, we’re glad you could tell that was a scammer. 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://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
I been contacted by Michael Oscar that I won Is it a scam.
Hello Maria, That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Stopping these scammers is a team effort and we ask that you report all scam contacts to PCH via 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 and have fun!!
I received a phone call from man named Todd Sloan saying I had won all their big prizes money, car & trip. He also gave me the names Mrs. Betty Flores,lawyer, Andrew Wilbert, CEO Dave Sayer& Debra Holland who would go to bank with me to hand out money. But first I needed to get an Amazon or Vanilla gift card for $500 . This immediately made me immediately made me suspicious. I would love to this was real but realize it probably isn’t. I did think you should be made aware.
Hello Shirley, Thank you very much for reporting the scammers that have contacted you. Stopping them is a team effort and we are happy that you are doing your part. Simply tell them that you know they’re not the real PCH and hang up. You can always report scammers to PCH at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Be careful and stay safe everyone!!
I wasn’t asked to send money but the mailed notice did not include the red label. It also mentioned compliance complete requirements but I did not get the notice that was supposed
to be included in this notice but all I got is a form saying status review and another saying Pending.
Is this legit? I did not get a compliance complete form.
Hello Evelyn, 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. Thank you!!
I, Lawrence J G$$$$, got an E-Mail on my cell phone for $$$$$$$$$$$$$@yahoo.com that I finally won $500.00 for life! Cell 3$$$ $$$-$$$$! I have text 24/7 and voice mail.
Hi Lawrence! 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. Stay safe!
Just got a call where a man said he was from PCH. He told me I had won $5 million based on my submitting an entry two years ago. How they always keeps entries. Well I have not turned in any entry in two years. He said I also had won $5,000 a month for my lifetime. He told me his name was David Peterson and had me to get pencil and paper and write information down. He gave me a confirmation number. and his badge number. He kept asking me questions if I could hear him. I got the idea he was attempting to get me to answer “yes”. I never would say “yes”. I said I could hear him okay. I would say “I can hear you”. He said he could not hear me and said he would call back. I still would not say “yes” as he continued to ask if I could hear him. He kept asking me other questions and wanted me to drive to Walmart where I would supposedly to get my prize. There are four Walmart’s where I live and he never gave me any directions on a specific Walmart. He would ask me questions as if he wanted me to answer “yes”. Did I drive? Was I dressed ready to go? , etc. Questions I feel he was wanting me to respond “yes”. I told him since he had my number, he had my address, etc. I told him he was a scam and hung up. He kept calling me, but I did not answer the phone. His phone number was not displayed so I have no idea his phone number. When I searched online and learned what I suspected. There is a PCH scam.
Hi Anne, we’re very glad you could tell that was 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://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
Got a call from a Mr. Donald Cooper claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House. After checking this site while on hold I hung up. He called back and I let him know he was a scammer. He hung up. Concerned about the repeating of my name. Why do this?
Hi Becky, we’re sorry to hear the scammers are contacting you. Make sure to 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://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!