Accessibility Statement

How To Prevent Friend Requests From PCH Scammers

It’s a story I see all too often when interacting with PCH fans in the social space. A fan will leave a comment on our Official PCH Fan Page on Facebook and less than 5 minutes later, they will get a friend request from a scammer claiming to be a PCH employee. Generally, these scammers pass themselves off as Dave, Todd, or Danielle with the intention of tricking our fans into believing they’ve won. I could go more in depth with the explanation, but here’s a video that covers how the scammers target PCH fans on Facebook.

[tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcIammMzrbY[/tube]

Over the past few months, our Community Managers have noticed a pattern. A fan usually receives “friend request” shortly after leaving a comment. Generally scammers watch the PCH page closely and contact the first person they see that’s left a comment. We’ve heard from fans that this often makes them uneasy and many times, annoyed. Some of our fans have told us that they will sometimes accept the friend request just to be able to say “GOTCHA!” to the scammer and let them know they’re on to their game, although we highly advise against this.

Our Consumer Affairs department works closely with Facebook and local authorities to help identify and try to catch these PCH scammers, by sharing data reported to our Fraud Division. Unfortunately, though, this is a process that takes time, and we can’t stop them straight off the bat. But there is something you can do to protect yourselves – and it’s much easier than you think.

PREVENT FRIEND REQUESTS FROM SCAMMERS!

Facebook privacy settings allow you to limit the amount of contact that strangers have with you on Facebook. This means that if you leave a comment on a PCH post and a scammer clicks on your name, they will not be able to send you a private message or even send you a friend request. Here’s how to check your privacy settings on Facebook.

How To Check Your Facebook Privacy Settings
1. Log into Facebook from your desktop computer.

2. On the top right hand side of the page click the small icon that looks like a padlock. These are your privacy settings.
3. Click on “Who Can Contact Me.”

4. Look at the settings beneath the question “Whose Messages Do I Want Filtered Into My Inbox?” Selecting “Strict Filtering” will make it more difficult for scammers to chat with you.

5. Then look at the settings beneath the question “Who Can Send Me Friend Requests” and make sure that it is set to “Friends of Friends.” Leaving it set to “Everyone” may be a personal preference, but keep in mind that scammers can then send you friend requests.

Dont-fall-for-PCH-Scams

So please, consider taking these steps to help prevent friend requests from PCH scammers. Interacting with us should be a fun experience for all of our fans, but most importantly we want to make sure you stay safe! Don’t let PCH scammers ruin the fun!

Stay safe everyone,

Sarah S.
Social Media

Other blogs you may like:
Advice from a Real PCH Fan: Beware of Scams on Facebook!

How To Spot Publishers Clearing House (PCH) Scams!

Leave your comment

Comments

  1. Felicia Wiggins send me a message saying the phc was trying yo contact meznd left a phone number to call. I hesitated because you guys have mh information. Its scamer?

  2. I have a problem with the scammers because they sent me emails to tell me I been payed for taking surveys, they said, you have a card with this amount $250.00, $500.00, and $170.00, and I responded okay sent my card 🤣 they never answered 😡

    1. Hi Antonia, 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. We encourage everyone to review the following Safety Tips to better protect themselves from being scammed: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2

    1. Hi Ceasar, 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 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 we’ll never ask for money to claim a prize. Stay safe and have fun.

  3. My name is Cheryl and I have just heard from Danielle and Andrew telling me I have won 50 million dollars and they both asking me to pay 250.00 before I can get the money

  4. I got contacted through telegram and then through WhatsApp that I won $ 1 million and a car and stupid me I spent about $1500.00 on gift cards. Now I got a massage with a photo to pay a $200.00 activation fee to unlock my winnings. All this happens under the name of Danielle Lam. Here are the names and phone numbers on WhatsApp
    Danielle Lam
    +1 520 800 $$$$
    Emily
    +234 708 862 $$$$
    +1 565 897 $$$$
    Jennifer
    +234 809 403 $$$$
    +1 430 345 $$$$
    One deleted account after sending the message and photos about the same winnings.
    I hope this is helpful to you.
    Best regards, Bruno

    1. Hello Bruno, That is a scammer pretending to be Dave Sayer- not the real Dave Sayer! The real Prize Patrol never sends friend requests, winner notifications or private messages on Facebook and you never need to pay to claim a prize. Do not give the scammer ANY of your personal information or any money! Please report this scam to us by completing a scam incident report. Click this link to find out how: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Check out this blog to find out how to prevent them from contacting you: https://bit.ly/StopFBScammers.

  5. Its getting ridiculous, yet another attempt, I’ve now supposedly won a total of 44 million and 3 cars. I’m tired of getting my hopes up. I’m ready for the real deal. My 4th Danielle fake profile contact.

    1. Hello Valerie, 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. Stay safe and have fun everyone!

  6. I’ve been trying to file a scam report. A person claims to be Danielle, claims I won $2.5 million dollars and a new truck. They then go on to say that the US government is the sponsor. Making it more interesting and they say to follow there instructions to claim my prize. Here is some of what is being said:
    Well I am pleased to inform you that you have just won the sum of $2.5 Million United State Dollars and a Brand New Truck … CONGRATULATION SIR !!!
    I am delighted to inform you of The result of this year PCH lottery program … It’s has just been concluded and the government is using this promo to encourage the citizens on keeping their surroundings clean and neat, okay?
    I want you to know that this is real and legitimate okay, you have nothing to worried about anymore okay all you need to do know is to follow my instruction and your winnings will get to you at your doorsteps.
    This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants and scam artists all participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individuals email addresses from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three years. You may be rest assured that this is real and legal. There are some scam artists around but thanks to the FBI, 238 of them have been arrested.

    Hope that helps.

  7. Wow, I’ve never been scanned before until now by the Danielle person. Been playing PCH since 1984. Now I know why I get 10- 50 Emails a day from PCH Over the years I’ve bought many things from PCH. Sad I never know what’s real from PCH.

    1. Hi Barbara, That is a scammer posing as Danielle! The real Danielle doesn’t privately contact winners via Facebook and you never need to pay to claim a PCH prize. Do not give the scammer ANY of your personal information. Please report this scam to us by completing a scam incident report. Click this link to find out how: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Stay safe everyone!