Hello, PCH friends. Not long ago, we introduced you to the NEW Official PCH Instagram page. We’re so excited to share what’s been happening at PCH with our fans on Instagram, and we’re getting more followers all the time. Unfortunately, we’ve noticed that scammers have been pretending to be from Publishers Clearing House and have even been impersonating members of the Prize Patrol on Instagram, with the intent of scamming innocent people. That’s why I’m writing to tell you to beware of PCH Scams on Instagram. Here are the top 3 ways to spot a PCH Scammer on Instagram.
#1 Look For The Checkmark, In The Right Place!
Our Official PCH Instagram Page is verified. (You can easily tell if a page is verified if it has the blue checkmark.) And this is important, the checkmark should be located right next to our name, Publishers Clearing House. We’ve seen scammers add a checkmark to our logo to try to impersonate PCH, but only our Official PCH Instagram place has the official checkmark in the right place.
#2 PCH Will NEVER Ask You To Pay Money To Claim A Prize!
At PCH, all of our sweepstakes are FREE to enter and FREE to win! Under no circumstances will PCH ask a winner to pay to claim a prize. In the past, scammers impersonating PCH have asked their victims to wire them money, or send a pre-paid Green Dot Money Card before their prize can be awarded. That would NEVER happen at PCH.
#3 PCH Will Never Contact You Through A Direct Message.
PCH NEVER contacts winners through direct messages on Instagram, or any social media channels, for that matter. At PCH, we surprise all our BIG winners by showing up at their door. If you receive a direct message on Instagram, it is not from us. If someone pretending to be from PCH asks you to call or send an email to contact them back – don’t do it!
You Can Help Report PCH Scammers On Instagram!
If you are contacted by a scammer pretending to be from PCH, do not accept their request, and do not contact them directly. What you can do is follow the simple steps below to report them on Instagram.
- On the scammer’s page, click the three dots on the upper right.
- Click
- Click It’s Inapropriate.
- Click I believe this account violates Instagram’s community guidelines.
- Click Report Account.
- Click This profile is pretending to be someone else.
- Click A celebrity or public figure.
- Then, you’ll get a screen asking who is being impersonated. Type Publishers Clearing House.
Friends, if you are an Instagram user, I hope you’ll follow and enjoy our new Official Instagram Page. Please beware of PCH Scams on Instagram. Staying safe is easy once you know the ways to spot a PCH scammer!
Have a great day!
Elaina R.
PCH Online Creative
Other Blogs You Might Enjoy:
Welcome To The Brand New PCH Official Instagram Page
Think You Were Contacted By A Scammer?
It’s April Fool’s Day! But PCH Scams Are No Joke!
Yes thank you, so much for the input because I’m currently being told that I have won a million dollars every year for life, and this information is very helpful!
I was contacted by a suppose Daniella Lam they even have a picture of her ID and all kinds of her information. I don’t know if it’s really her or not, you can contact me if u need help to catch them. My email is fred$$$$$$$03@yahoo.com and my number is (313) 502-$$$$ to Text me or 313-696-$$$$ please let me know, I have pictures and everything I do play PCH games.
Hello Frederick, Stopping these scammers is a team effort and we ask that you report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I recommend you also check out this PCH blog article to see how you can prevent 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!
I was contacted buy a Howie Guja, saying I won 1,00,00,000 usd and a Jeep. He had PCH photos and a so called FBI authentication letter.
Hi Chris! 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! Scammers are very sneaky and will use our good name and reputation and sometimes fake images 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’ve been contacted by at least 35 Danielles from Publishers Clearing House in the past 4 days. They all have all the ID and pics, even some with my name on a sign. They seem legit till they ask for money or personal information, then I block and reported them. I’ve got screenshots of all of them and 5 and all, so a lot of them now say there CEO of Facebook and PCH. In all I’ve had over 50 different ones In last 5 days and still new ones coming in every hour or two. Thought you should know.
Hi Troy, we’re glad you could tell those were scammers. PCH will never send friend requests, private messages, or winner notifications via Facebook, and we also never ask for money to claim a prize. 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 here: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. There are some settings you can tweak that will stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook. For instructions please click here: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay Safe!
They’re sending me pictures of Danielle ID tag and pictures of her holding a T shirt asking for 300 dollars and now 500 dollars on vanilla card.
They said that PCH has a fed ex fee. Is that true?
Hi Thomad! Just so you know, you never have to pay a fee to claim a prize you may have won from PCH, for any reason including delivery fees. 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-2/. 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 was approached by a woman posing as Sharon but don’t know the last name, claiming I won a PCH sweepstakes and a brand new truck. She said I have to pay $250 in order to get these winnings. I did not pay.
Hi Maurice! 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!
There are at least 3 sites claiming to be Danielle Lambert. One tried to tell me I was finalist for a million dollars and red Chevy truck with pictures of both. Didn’t want money but personal address, email, and phone number. Also had someone claiming to be with 1st Natl Bank of California call me.
Hi Thomas, I’m so sorry to hear the scammers are bothering you. 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. Stay safe!
My name is Joyce and they told me that I had some money but I can’t get until I pay the taxes
Hello Joyce! That is a scammer who contacted you. 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.
Had a young lady trying to get information about my age and address. Publishers has this already. Then she asked me if I wanted cash or check. All this was done on Instagram. She even posted a identity card to prove she is Lam Danielle. I am very sad. It was just a scam 😒 Thank you.
Hi Caleb! 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!!
I have apparently been scammed and I have spent over $1000 for the prize and it was all of my bill money said that in Missouri they have a federal trades commission for getting the car I was supposedly winning I amsick about this and it’s going to probably cost me a divorce
Hello Bob, 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!!