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?
How do I fill out a scam incident report?
Hi Steve! 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!
Received a robo call saying I have a prize from Publishers Clearing House. I should call 719-401-$$$$. Is that a real number? It came from 484-210-$$$$.
Just received the scam call. Stayed on the line to see what it entailed. I needed to buy a Money Pak card and meet them there.
I was called by a gentlemen claiming to be Dave Sayers – sent an e-mail and documents stating that I won $5,700,000.00 and a Mercedes Benz. Even sent letters stating the prize and an IRS letter stating the proceeds and what I would have to pay to the IRS. The phone number is a New York number – 1 $$$-$$$-$$$$ and an e-mail was sent by Kevin B$$$$ – $$$$$$$$$$@gmail.com. I am sure it is a scam but want to know who I can report it to. I gave my work e-mail, and no other information regarding home address or any bank information. I have documents that I can send to show the information that they are sending. I tried to open the Scam Incident Report on my computer but it will not open. Is there another area to send information to?
Hi Linda! Please report all contacts from scammers to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH, or by calling our scam hotline at 1-800-392-4190. PCH does partner with the Federal Trade Commission and we send all scam reports to them so please make sure you let us know anytime a scammer contacts you. Remember, the real PCH never notifies major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask winners to pay to claim their prize. You can see more Safety Tips here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
Hi,
I just received a call from someone named Todd Sloan at $-$$$-$$$-$$$$, and claims to be our claim manager who said that we won $13,500,000 and $10,000 a week for life and a 2023 GMC Sierra and what I have to do is go to CVS and get 2 American Express cards for $500 each and then he will process our claim.
This sounds very fishy to me so my question is this a scam or is it real. I think that it’s a scam. Please let me something on this.
Thank you,
Ray
Hi Ray! That’s definitely a scammer, and what you are describing is a common scam. Just so you know, 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. Please don’t give them any money, or any personal information! 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, and stay safe!
I received a telephone call from Jamaica New York. He gave me a name, badge number and told me I had won 10.4 million dollars!! Wish I would have.
Hi Sandy! 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!
I have been a member for YEARS and have bought items time and again but with the state our country (pocketbooks) are in, I just fill in my info to try and send because it always says no purchase necessary – is this really true? Are non-buyers put in a giant bin and only one picked every month? Winners are posted but are they “buyers” or “non-buyers”. Id like a fair way to win, even if no purchase necessary. Can you please give me a “trick” answer or just cross my fingers. ??
Hi Patty! The majority of our SuperPrize million dollar giveaways have won as a result of a non-order entry. Whether you order or not, your entry is always processed with the same care and could make you our next winner. The disclosure “No Purchase Necessary” and “Buying Won’t Help You Win” is found in a number of different places in all of our promotions and is always prominently displayed in bold face in our Official Rules, as well as our Sweepstakes Facts. The fact that this message is clearly conveyed is most powerfully demonstrated in our findings that we routinely receive far more non-order entries; and in the makeup of our winners, the majority have not ordered with their winning entry. Remember, the only way to win is to enter the PCH sweepstakes. We appreciate your ongoing loyalty thus far and hope to see you continue to try your luck! To see all of your entry options, click here: http://bit.ly/Enter-A-PCH-Sweeps. Good luck and have a nice day!
Email from PCH LOTTERY saying I won $2000000.00. I was requested to send details to :$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$@zohomail.com. Is this a scam?
Hello there! Sadly 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! 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. Stay safe!
I got a call from PHC telling me that I had won and they had me make a list of everything that they told me. Asked what I would like to drink, what kind of car I would like along with the color of the car. If I liked flowers. They asked about me some I answered and some I didn’t answer other questions. Then they told me to go to one of several stores and buy a card for $999.99. I told them that I didn’t have that much money and they offered to find donors to help me out and then they would go to my bank with me to deposit my Money and pay the donor back. I told them I was not interested. They kept calling me back but I didn’t answer.
Hi J! We’re so sorry to hear that the scammers are bothering you. Just so you know, 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. Please don’t give them any money, or any personal information! 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, and stay safe!
Someone from phone #$$$ $$$-$$$$ is on my line telling me I won, and my claim number is 10725.
Hi Juliette! 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://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!