PCH Fans,
Picture this… it’s an ordinary day and as you go about your daily activities you are suddenly interrupted by a phone call, letter, email, Facebook message or some other type of notification advising that you are a big Publishers Clearing House winner.
You get so excited you almost drop everything you are holding to jump in the air and begin yelling with excitement. That is of course until you remember that there are two very important things missing — the PCH Prize Patrol AND the Big Check! Yes friends, the alarms should be sounding right about now. THIS IS A SCAM!
Here at PCH we do our best to alert consumers about the latest scams. Since we love making dreams come true with our exciting sweepstakes, we hate nothing more than to learn of fraudulent scammers contacting our loyal fans in their attempts to illegally obtain money and personal information.
So, what should you or your friends and family do if you suspect that you are being scammed? Well, the first thing is to never give out personal information or send money to the scammers! The second thing is make sure you report the scam right away using our super helpful scam form!
Remember – stay educated and know the signs of a PCH scam! At Publishers Clearing House we NEVER contact our winners in advance. It’s ALWAYS a surprise. To identify a scam, you should look for the following signs:
- You were messaged on social media
- You received a phone call telling you that you are a major prize winner at PCH.
- You were asked to send a money card, cash, or provide the scammers with bank/personal information to claim your prize.
These are just some of the signs to watch out for. Unfortunately, it can happen to anyone. As a matter of fact, my own father AND one of my best friends were both contacted by PCH scammers!
I hope you found this information super-helpful. Please stay alert and make sure you always report any Publishers Clearing House scam you received. The more we know about these scammers, the better we can protect our loyal fans just like you!
Stay Alert!
Victoria P.
PCH Creative
I got a phone call that I had wo $3,500.000 from a John Peters He told me not to tell anyone about my win . Today I got an email PDF about a check to pay $15,000 taxes also another PDF about the winnings Plus a Mercedes BenzI think it is a scam . All about my winnings from Publishers clearing House .
Hello Essie, We’re so glad that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH. As you know, the Prize Patrol will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via social media, standard mail, email, or phone. Please report any details you have about this scammer to PCH here: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Stay safe everyone!
I was just scammed by Donald Tucker yesterday.
Hello Debra, Thanks so much for the warning! 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. Stay safe everyone!
I received 2 identical letters (from PCH, Rich Lawerson, Ex.Vice Pres.) Each had an identical check inside for $8,985.90 which they said was to use towards taxes, handling and our of pocket expenses. They also asked that we call a number and speak with Chris Goodman for method of payment.
Hi Gloria! Sadly, those are scams. All of our major prize winners are awarded in person by our famous Prize Patrol, with no prior warning. Just so you know, you never have to pay a fee to claim a prize you may have won from PCH, for any reason. 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. 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!
Yes, I was contacted by someone says his name was Donald Tuckeri gave him the last 4 of my ss number big mistake sh$$$@gmail.com.
Hello Shirley, Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Thank you!!
Who is Donald Tucker? Is he a PCH employee?
Hi Christine, it sounds like you’ve been contacted by a scammer. 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 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 was contacted by Donald Tucker. Pleased advise.
Hi Christine, that’s definitely a scammer. Please report them 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!
I was contacted by a guy saying his name was Peter from publishers clearing house. He said I won $1.5 million dollars and a Mercedes Benz Car. Told me to write down a couple of things and one of them was a name Mary Lee company lawyer. I would have to pay $505 for the car to be delivered.
Hello Meghan, 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. Stay safe everyone!!
I just got a phone call saying that I had won 2.5 million and a Chevy car. That he was Tony goodman his phone number was a new York number. Just letting you know. My name is Jerry Doan from mountain view Wyoming. Have a good day.
Hello Jerry, 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!
I was contacted by phone that I won a prize the number is …
516-$$$-$$$$
Please Stop these SCAMMERS
Hello Hilda, We’re so happy that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH who contacted you. The real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. Please report any details you have about that scam contact to us at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!
I been trying to find out about Donald Tucker, he contacted my wife and says that she had won 1 million dollars, 7000 dollars a week for life and a Mercedes , he never asked for money, banking info or anything.
He says the car has been ordered and now waiting for finalizing everything. But again he has never asked for anything
My email is $$$$$$$rry@gmail.com, I sure would like to know! He also said we don’t pay for anything,
Hello Larry, With PCH, a purchase is never required to enter or to win. 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. If you feel that you may have been contacted by a scammer, please report it to PCH as soon as possible: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Stay Safe Everyone!