Greetings, fans and friends,
Here at PCH, we detest scammers as much as you do. We think it’s awful when unscrupulous individuals impersonate the “real” Publishers Clearing House and contact fans and friends like you, often asking their victims to send some sort of payment to claim a fake PCH “prize” (something, by the way, that PCH would never do)!
That’s why you need a convenient way to quickly and easily report a PCH scam – and we now have one.
Introducing the brand new online PCH Scam Form.
We encourage you to use this new scam reporting form if you’ve been contacted by a scammer over the phone, by postal mail, by email or social media. If you’ve received a scam contact by email or on Facebook, you may feel free to report the scam using the new online scam form.
Our new form will take you step-by-step through a short list of questions regarding the scam contact you received, and will help us to serve you better!
Let’s go through it together …
- When you arrive at the “How do I report a scam?” page, simply click on the link to fill out a Scam Incident Report:
• Clicking on the link will bring you to the Fraud/Scam Incident Report page:
- Read through this page carefully. If you’ve received a scam contact from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, fill in the “Yes” circle. You will then be asked if you sent or lost money to the scammers. If you answer “Yes,” you will be prompted to submit information about the scam incident, such as your name and phone number, the date and time of the incident, your home address, your email address, the amount of money you may have sent the scammer, and any additional comments you’d like to report (see the picture below for a portion of this page).
By the way, if you did lose money to a scammer, we recommend that you report the scam to your local authorities.
It is very important that you not engage further with the scammer. Do not send any more money, and do not reply to their calls, letters or emails!
- Once you’ve filled out your information and hit “submit,” PCH will share your information with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US Postal Service, and police and law enforcement officials around the country; to help these agencies put a stop to such illegal and fraudulent scam operations.
For more information on how to protect yourself from scams, check out PCH’s Consumer Affairs link on pch.com.
Stay safe, everyone!
Debbie K.
PCH Creative
Please take a look at these other blogs, too!
Did I Win from PCH or Am I Being Scammed?
Do You Think You’re the Victim of a PCH Impostor Scam? Here’s What to Do!
PCH Scam Warning: Please Don’t Post Your Personal Information!
I received a message on my machine also saying that I had won $8 million and a 2023 BMW. The number that came up was 646-948-5936. They said to call 917-266-9990. I did not call back as I assume this is a fraud. Please advise. Thank you.
Hi Maura! That is definitely a scam. Please report the scam email you received 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!!
They actually called me and left a message to 1 $$$ $$$-$$$$ to claim 12.5 million and a new Mercedes.
Hi Lisa, I’m sorry to hear the scammers are bothering you. That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. If you haven’t already done so, please report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Have a great day, and stay safe!
If you don’t have a customer ID, request one.
Hi Nancy! Thank you for contacting PCH. In order for us to assist you with your question we will need a bit more information. We kindly ask to please reach out to our Customer Service Team and check out this link here: http://pch.custhelp.com/app/ask. Our representatives are available to assist you Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 11 PM & Saturday 8:30 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time. Have a great day!
I was contacted by someone I friended on Facebook. He sent me to Williams Martin on Facebook. They contacted me asking me for a bunch of sensitive information all in caps and said I needed to hurry to claim my prize. All my alarm bells went off, and I have contacted you. The person who contacted me is Hal R$$$$$$.
Hello John! That is definitely a scammer who contacted you! PCH will never send friend requests, private messages, or winner notifications via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc; we also never ask for money to claim a prize. Do not give this person any personal information and certainly do not send them any money!! Instead, report them to PCH by completing a Scam Incident Report. Here’s how: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Check out this FAQ for info on how to stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!
This is why there is so much time. All a person should need is My acct. and the email address for PCH. I won’t report this scammer again.
Hi Darlene! Please be aware PCH does not alert major prize winners through email, we also don’t request any payment to receive a prize. Please report the scam email you received at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I also encourage you to check out these Safety Tips for some great info on what to watch for: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe everyone!!
I’ve tried twice to fill out your online scam form and been kicked out at the last point after writing my comments in the comment box. I’m not going to fill this out again if it’s a buggy system. If you want information you can call me. I am the caregiver of the woman who received the phone call this morning. The man on the phone supposedly will be coming by the house within an hour but I’ll be here to handle it. That’s just you put some information on your website for elderly people on how to handle the situation if someone does show up at their home. Thank you.
Hi Kara! Thank you for contacting PCH. In order for us to assist you with this, please contact us at your convenience. Our customer service representatives may be reached at http://bit.ly/ContactPCH. We look forward to hearing from you.
I have been contacted from $$$ $$$-$$$$ by Patrick C$$$$$$ of Mega Millions, stating that I won back in 2018 and because I could not be located in 2018, the prize was given to them. I need to pay 1% of the taxes, $2,799.75, by going to the back and getting a cash advance from a credit card to pay this claiming fee.
Hi Johnette! 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. Please 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://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe!
Hi someone just contacted my mother right before the new year by phone saying she won 2.5 million and a Mercedes Benz and that she needed to pay insurance $4,900 and taxes $5,000 and told her to keep it confidential and don’t tell anyone that she won until she paid the fees and receives her money in her account… unfortunately she sent them the money $10,000 and she is now waiting for them to deliver this car and deposit this winning… I’ve tried to tell my mom its not real and there is no such thing as paying for something you won… he’s still in contact with my mom and he’s telling her lies…
Hi Condola, I’m very sorry to hear about that. Thank you so much for looking out for your mother. That’s definitely a scammer. 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 pass these Safety Tips on to your mother for some great info on what to watch for: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe!
Danielle O Lammy, email me told me I won 2nd prize, sent pictures of prize, and other winners. Ask’d for my information and $500.00 dollars. Then I would receive my winnings that night.
Hello Lenora! Please be aware PCH does not alert major prize winners through email, we also don’t request any payment to receive a prize. Please report the scam email you received 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!!
Hi, I have a friend who just received a scam letter. It said he’s a lucky winner and they sent a check for $8,997 for out of pocket expenses supposedly. The letter has instructions on the payment and how he is required by law to pay towards taxes, handling and fees. There is a phone number 1-917-688-3972. Letter mentions claims agent Robert Cook and signed by Deborah Holland.
He didn’t send any money because I caught it before and because of his age he likely would have fallen for it and is often targeted by scammers.
Hello Alban! That is definitely a scam, PCH would never send you a check like that. 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. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim.