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?
Hello Sharon, you are so brave for contacting us in regard to this scam. With PCH, a purchase is never required to enter or to win. Per the Official Rules and Sweepstakes Facts, a purchase or lack thereof will not affect a person’s chances of winning. In fact, most winners have been as a result of an entry-only submission. I assure you that PCH never solicits our consumers via outbound calling. If you feel that you may have been contacted by a scammer, please report it to PCH as soon as possible: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH Stay safe and have fun everyone!
In bound messages disappeared before opening
No response from PCH to e-mails sent
Regarding Survey
Contacted AOL
Still no response
Thank you
Hello Timm, Thank you for contacting PCH. We are sorry to hear that you are experiencing technical difficulties on our website. Please reach out to our Digital Assistant where representatives are ready to assist with your concern. Please click the link here: https://bit.ly/ContactPCH for assistance. We look forward to hearing from you.
Hello Jeannie, 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!!
A man named Bob Krick said he was an agent with publishers clearing house, and he would check to see if I was the winner. If I gave him my name and address, is he legit
Hello A VonHatten, That was not the real PCH that contacted you in either case. PCH does not contact winners via social media, whether it be through private message or friend request. We also do not contact by phone, standard mail, or email and we never ask for money to claim a prize. Please report the fake account to us here: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Check out this blog article for info on how you can stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe everyone and be careful of scammers pretending to be the REAL Prize Patrol!
These people scammers) are getting better and better. I received at least four or five of these calls a month. Usually it’s from a Dave, or Mike with a very heavy accent. They are calling from a toll free number and they are giving badge numbers. This time I was contacted by a woman, no accent, Peggy Parker badge #70711. I picked up the phone because it said a call from a toll free number and I didn’t look at the number – I have several friends that that’s how their call comes up. Anyway, she was good until she asked me to purchase a Vanilla Gift card for $500.00 to use as a Claimer Card for when my check is delivered. That’s when I told her she was a scammer and hung up. She called right back, I did pick up and said you are a scammer her reply was “$500.00 is nothing compared to the 45 million I won. I hung up she called right back, I didn’t pick up.
Hello Antonia, 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!!
Working a possible scam right now. 1-954-299-$$$2, Claims to be Dean Wade, but phone caller ID returns to Steve Birch…. Saying they are wiring funds today. But I need a master card or visa to be protected and they will handle everything through Wells Fargo.
hello Roberts, We’re so glad that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH. As you know, the Prize Patrol will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via social media, standard mail, email, or phone. Please report any details you have about this scammer to PCH here: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. You can also check out this PCH Blog for ways to stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe and protect yourselves from becoming scam victims!!
Phone number 951-$$$-$$$$ that called.
VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION.
I too received a call saying I had won second prize of $2 million. The call came from Manhasset NY. 516-570-$$$$. Checked back and spoke with someone which said that number was out of service. The caller did leave an 888 number for me to call.
Hello Hugh, We certainly take the issue of scams and the illegal use of our name by scammers very seriously; that’s why we regularly educate our fans on what they can do to protect themselves. Unfortunately, scammers aren’t always easy to locate since many of them operate out of country. You can do your part to help us by reporting all scam contacts that you receive. Here’s how to report scammers, please report to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. It’s important to remember that the real PCH will never ask for money to claim a prize. Stay safe everyone!
Good morning, I was just called yesterday and the information that given was I the new 10.5 million Doller winner. The person Name was Victor John Freemen, he gave me this long number EJ 52900861475766US and RN0904143875490808USA also getting a Car 2024 BMW X6. The phone number was New York State. 1 607 258 $$$$ I believe it was a scam only because after listening to him and last words he said was I had to give a service fee of $ 2500 dollars to the state. That’s win I knew it was a scam. I wish you could stop this cause there are person that fall for this kind if scam.
Hello Mr. Roasles, We’re so glad that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH. As you know, the Prize Patrol will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via social media, standard mail, email, or phone. Please report any details you have about this scammer to PCH here: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. You can also check out this PCH Blog for ways to stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe and protect yourselves from becoming scam victims!!
My name is Mr. Silva. I just received a call claiming that I had won 10.5 million dollars, all I had to do was pay the approval fee of 1352.52 to unlock my prize.