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.
I’m mot doing good. My brother passed away and I’ve been taking care of him.
Is there an agent smith there?
Hi Judith, You are definitely describing a scam. No one from PCH will send you winner notifications or ask for fees on Social Media and or contact you by phone. Winning is always free with PCH! 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.
Danielle Lamm contacted me on Instagram I already knows fake but I want to make sure she said I want $5 million in a truck and I’m still talking to her right now What do I do It’s just real or not.
Hello Lonnie, That is a scammer posing as Danielle! The real Danielle doesn’t privately contact winners via Instagram 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. Check out our Fraud Protection site to see how to stay safe: https://bit.ly/PCHFraudPrevention.
Why do you keep kicking me off the PCH app?
Hi Linda! We are sorry to hear about the issues you are having with the app. Please refer to this FAQ for some troubleshooting tips: https://bit.ly/PCHApp-Tech. If these don’t work, reach out to Customer Service by emailing us here: https://bit.ly/PCHApps_Email. Please also provide the information requested in the FAQ. Take care!
She tried to get me today to send her a picture of my ID saying they can process my winning but she need a picture of the front and back of my ID is that true?
Hello Larry, Thank you very much for reporting the scammers that have contacted 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. Be careful and stay safe everyone!!
(Name) you are a winner you could call this number for further information… $$$ $$$-$$$$.
From a Michael Robertson on Facebook.
Fb page says he works for PCH.
Hi Melanie! That is definitely a scammer who contacted you. PCH will never send friend requests, private messages, or winner notifications via social media including Facebook, and 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. Stay safe!
Danielle my name is Eugene and I was contacted by someone else claiming to be a employee of PCH, and they did send me a friend request first then she say that I’m the second place winner and that you yourself would be contacting me. To which this was done also. Ok, now I would like to know. If there’s a delivery fee that’s supposed to be paid by myself to Fed Ex to be able to claim my winnings as this is what’s being said by this person who is supposed to be yourself. I’d really like to know ASAP as I’m supposed to pay this this Friday to claim my winnings of $100,000 + a new GMC truck. True or is this also a scam and I did ask to see these thing with my own eyes before I paid anything too.
Hello Eugene, 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. 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!
I was scammed by an agent named Agent Christopher David and Agent Pamela Barnes. They cleaned out my account and it went negative and closed. I need a different account. But the bank I was at reported it as a loss instead of a case of fraud. Both agents claimed to be with PCH program.
Hi Linda, we’re very sorry to hear that happened. I’m sorry to tell you those were scammers, 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. 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/. Stay safe!
I received one saying I had won because of supporting famous country music stars like Track Adkins, and I have to pay $100. Then because of a wreck FedEx had FBI claim my prize, and now I have to pay 500 dollars to release my prize.
Hi Glenda, that was definitely a scammer that 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://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
Someone message me and said I won. PCH check the register, my name is pearly W$$$$$. I wonder is it a scam.
Hi Pearly! 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/. Stay safe!
I got one from a FB “friend” saying he got “money from PCH,” and sent me a link to “Danielle Lam” as we speak. I knew right away then came across this Blog to check it out for my own job reasons…
Hello Scott, 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!