Greetings, fans and friends!
As I go through your comments on the PCHblog each week, checking out what fans and friends like you have to say about our posts, I often come across comments like these:
“Someone sent me a friend request on Facebook saying she was Danielle from the PCH Prize Patrol. Is this real or a scam?”
“I saw on Instagram that I won the $5,000 A Week ‘Forever’ PCH SuperPrize. I think it’s a scam but I’m not sure.”
Well, first of all, good for you – all of you out there – for being such savvy social media users, and for questioning what you see! You’d be absolutely right to guess that Facebook and Instagram posts like these would be scams!
Here’s the deal: if you receive a friend request on Facebook from someone claiming to be a member of the PCH Prize Patrol or a Publishers Clearing House employee, STOP! Do NOT accept the friend request – this is a SCAM! PCH does not send friend requests to anyone, for any reason. You can also actively prevent friend requests from PCH scammers by watching this helpful video.
Let me be perfectly clear: PCH employees NEVER send friend requests on social media, so do NOT accept them. And do NOT engage in Twitter or Instagram conversations with people pretending to be from PCH. We NEVER contact you this way!
Beware of PCH Scams!
There are more to PCH scams than just friend requests on social media. A really easy way to spot a PCH scam is if you are asked to pay or wire money to claim a prize. Remember, at Publishers Clearing House the winning is ALWAYS FREE and there are NEVER any fees to claiming a prize – EVER!
Another important scam prevention tip is to remember that PCH NEVER calls winners in advance! If someone calls or contacts you in any way to say they are coming to award a prize, they are NOT from the real Publishers Clearing House! PCH would NEVER notify a winner in advance – that would spoil the surprise of the winning moment!
I hope these tips are helpful because we truly love our fans and we want you to stay safe. We work super-hard to prevent scams – and if you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer, please fill out our Scam Incident Report right away!
After all, we want you to enter for free, have fun, enjoy the PCH experience, and maybe … who knows? … even become a big winner someday soon!
Debbie K.
PCH Creative
P.S. If you ever thought to yourself, “No one from my state ever wins PCH,” come back at 12 noon ET and read my friend Matt’s fascinating blog! You’ll never say those words again.
There’s a PCH scam on FB and Messenger right now. There’s a Barbara House and a Thomas Sink right now, urging me to participate and I will NOT.
Hi Elizabeth, we’re glad you could tell that wasn’t the real PCH. We don’t contact our fans privately on Facebook. Scammers are very sneaky and will use our good name and reputation 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. I also encourage you to take a look at this PCH Blog for info on how you can stop scammers from contacting you: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe!
Yes someone l know on FB sent me a message on messenger asking if l got my package yet from PCH from FEDEX I think his account was hacked. Here is a copy of the conversation
Glad to hear from you. I’m doing good and extremely happy trying to stay healthy and safe. I saw your name on the PCH list. Have you got your package delivered to you?
Then l am thinking thus has to be a hacked account so l laugh and say What? He replies back with this
What? It’s the Publishers Clearing house program, I got some financial benefit from them after I applied for the program and I saw your name on their winners list while I was signing the claiming papers when the FedEx came to deliver package to me so I thought I would see if you have gotten yours as well?
So l know this is not real l told the hackers that and no reply back! So beware people!
Hello Bernardine! Thanks so much for the warning! 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!
Yes i was contact by phone saying i wom 1.5 million dollars and 5ooo . a week for life. Plus a Mercedes Benz. All this would be nice . They haven’t asled for money yet. But its a scam because you say you never call the winner first . It take a ll the fun out of it. And they asked me to send a check for $250 dollars. For federal fees.
hubby was directed to someone claiming to be with PCH and he is being asked for all kinds of information as well as a picture of his ID
“Agent David Barry* keeps asking if he’s ready to fill out the form–doesn’t sound authentic to me!
Hello suspicious wife, 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!!
There’s a video on the PCH Prize Patrol Facebook page where a girl is getting a bottle of champagne off the shelf video saying “We’re on the road!”
I commented, “I hope it’s me!” I received a reply from Bob Goodman to call this phone # 806-531-6225 & that I won $2 million dollars & to contact PCH. I wondered if it’s a scam. I have not called the phone number because I wanted to check first.
Hello Sylvia, 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!
Is agent AJ Smith a real PCH agent
Hi Arthur! 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!
Seem to call last night Steven and I was a winner for $$5,000 a week for $ 4 million dollars.. I call the number
. It starts with 929 area code… But I ripped it up and I forgot her number..
because they ask for$ 150 processing fee. I TOLD THE MAN ON THE PHONE WHO HAD AN INDIA ACCENT…. THIS IS A SCAM..THEN HE HUNG UP ON ME
One of my friends on Facebook sent me a contact to check my edibility to receive a $150,000.00 bonus as part of the PCH relationship with Facebook and the Government Relief Fund Program. She sent me a form to fill out with a good deal of Personal Information. No SSN or bank acccount info.
Is this legit?
My friend said he received the $150,000 at his doorstep.
Hello Roy, 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!!
Just had a scam from PCH just called me via duo phone. Then said I’m the winner I need to send them my information for a FedEx delivery.
Hi Margaret! 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!!
Agent name Fred that I won 50,000 that had to pay a fee 150 dollars
Hi Pamela, that’s a scammer contacting you. 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 got a text from pch claiming to be an agent Nancy Brown saying I won how do I know if this is a scam she even sent me a picture of her work I.D someone please help me out with this
Hello Justin, 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!!
Got call from a PCH representative named Michael Anderson telling me to go to Walmart or CVS and contact him once there and he will guide me on how to get gift card for $5000 a week plus a new car . Is this for real?
Hello Florene, 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!!