If you’re wondering “Is It Really PCH or Is It A Scam,” please follow these 3 important tips to stay safe!
Greetings, fans and friends,
We love our fans! And we want you all to have the best, most fun experience possible entering the free and fabulous PCH Sweeps!
And that’s why, when we hear stories about scammers, we feel awful! Because whether it’s a scammer pretending to be from Publishers Clearing House or from any organization at all, the act of swindling an innocent person into handing over their hard-earned money is just WRONG!
In fact, I heard about a recent incident involving 3 individuals who were charged with running a cross-country sweepstakes scam targeting the elderly.
Prosecutors say the suspects tricked 7 victims who thought they had won as much as $3.5 million in sweepstakes prizes into sending them more than $695,000 by mail or wire transfers! These unfortunate elderly folks were allegedly told they needed to pay taxes and fees before collecting their prizes.
It just makes me sick to tell you, dear fans and friends, about stories like this. And as much as we wish the scammers would go away, we know that unfortunately, it’s going to keep on happening.
That’s why we want you to know that we at PCH, working alongside law enforcement authorities, are always doing everything we can to take action against scammers!
Here are 3 very important things to keep in mind:
- PCH NEVER Notifies Major Prize Winners by Phone! If you DO receive a phone call claiming that you’ve won a major prize from Publishers Clearing House, it’s a certain sign that you are the victim of a scam – no ifs ands and buts about it!
- PCH will NEVER ask you to send money to claim your prize. On the other hand, a scammer will almost always ask you to wire money, or purchase a prepaid card, in order for you to claim your “prize award.” Always remember, at Publishers Clearing House, the winning is always 100% FREE!
- If you do receive a scam call, take immediate action! Please fill out our online Fraud/Scam Incident Report as soon as possible. At PCH, we want to keep you safe!
In addition, be aware for these other signs of scams:
- PCH will NEVER send friend requests on Facebook, or contact you via Twitter or Instagram
- PCH will NEVER email, text or private message you to tell you you’ve won a prize.
- Do not fall for those “fake check” scams! In these types of scams, you might receive a real-looking check in the mail, and then be asked to wire back a portion of the money, which the scammers might claim is your “entry fee.” Again, this is a scam: the check is fake, and the real PCH would NEVER ask you to pay a fee in order to claim a prize!
At PCH, we love our fans, and we love to give away money! So if you’re ever wondering “is it really PCH or is it a scam,” please remember these tips, and you’ll be sure to keep yourself and your families protected from those nasty scammers!
As always, stay educated … stay protected … and STAY SAFE!
Debbie K.
PCH Creative
My Grandma received a letter & check (to cover any “out of pocket expenses”) for 9,855.01 claiming to be from PCH asking her to call 1-516-252-4940, ask for “Peter Goodman.” The letter is signed Deborah Holland. The check is supposedly from Truist Bank & signed Gayla Puiyear.
Hello Elena, We’re so happy that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH who contacted you. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Thank you!!
I had a person call saying I won 5.9 million and a truck. How do I know if it’s legit or not?
Hello John! 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. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!
Hi
I think I am being scammed i received a call from a John Goodman saying that he works for publisher clearinghouse he says his badge number is jg11011 he mentioned that I have won 14 million dollars plus a Mercedes Benz also he says that he works with a Deborah Holland her badge number is dh55665 i already paid 20thousanddollars
Hello Kenneth! 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. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!
This Company claims that they merge PCH the company name is Luckstactic and the Person name is Robert Colman he told that he is working together With PCH I have paid them a lot of money ok
Hi Jose, 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-2/. Take care!
I have been scammed.I got a call from a guy who says that he is dave sayer. From publishing clearance house said I had to pay 99. 00 for some registration , then 200.00 for gold star. 400.for docking and storage fee for car that I suppose to have won fees. Now 200.00 to prosses some documents before he can do an delivery in the amount 2,500,000. He keeps saying that he is in canton nc. He sent a picture of the hotel but the picture is from the web site the hotel is on .He won’t do the delivery until I pay rather 200.00 fee. He sent a picture of a certificate cashier check through Wells Fargo. He has called me all day long for a week .
Hello Helen, 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.