Greetings, fans and friends,
“How do I report a PCH scam?”
“I think I’m being scammed. What should I do?
“Someone who said they were from PCH tried to scam me. Help!”
If you think you’ve been contacted by a Publishers Clearing House scammer, you may think there’s nothing that you can do. But that is absolutely not true. Here at PCH, we work hard to protect consumers from fraudulent scam artists!
We think it’s flat-out wrong when unscrupulous individuals impersonate the “real” PCH and contact fans and friends like you – often asking their victims to send some sort of payment or fee to claim a fake PCH “prize” (which, by the way, is something the real PCH would never, ever do). At Publishers Clearing House the winning is always free!
That’s why we have a super-easy way to report scams – our online PCH Scam Incident Report.
No matter whether a scammer has contacted you by phone, by postal mail, by email or by social media (such as Facebook), we strongly encourage you to fill out the online PCH scam form.
Our online scam incident report will take you step-by-step through a short list of questions regarding the scam contact you received – with the goal of helping us to better protect unsuspecting consumers!
Here’s how to report a PCH scam …
- First, visit the scam report page, which is on the pch.com website, by clicking here. In fact, why not bookmark this page in case you’re contacted by a PCH scammer?
- Click on the link to the scam incident report (it’s in the first paragraph of the “Answer”) and you will arrive at the Fraud/Scam Incident Report Page:
- Please read through this page and if you’ve received a scam contact from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, click on the “Yes” circle.
- You will then be asked if you sent or lost money to the scammers. If you answer “Yes,” you will be prompted to submit pertinent information about the scam incident, such as your name and phone number, the date and time of the incident, your home address, your email address, the amount of money you sent to the scammer, and any additional comments you’d like to report (see the picture below for a portion of this page).
- Once you’ve filled out your information and hit “Submit,” PCH will share your information with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US Postal Service, and law enforcement officials around the country, in our efforts to help these agencies put a stop to such illegal and fraudulent activities.
- As an extra precaution, if you lost money to a scammer, we recommend that you report the scam to your local authorities, in addition to filling out the PCH scam incident report.
- For more information on scam prevention, check out PCH’s Consumer Affairs link on pch.com.
By the way, it is very important that you NOT engage further with a PCH scammer. Do not send any more money, and do not reply to their calls, emails, letters or Facebook/Instagram/Twitter messages!
Please stay safe, fans and friends! At PCH it’s all about winning and having fun … for FREE!
Debbie K.
PCH Creative
P.S. I know that many of you will comment below describing your experiences with PCH scammers. That’s great, because the information you share will help your fellow blog readers. But PLEASE don’t forget to also fill out the PCH Scam Report I’ve just talked about! Thank you!
Other blogs you may find helpful:
Important Message: Protect Yourself from Scammers!
Sweepstakes Scam Alert: Are YOU Accidentally Helping Scammers?
I have been receiving phone call from Kevin Benjamin claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House saying I have come in second place and have won money of $10,500,000.00. Gave me a Package Number LE2100002892US that would be deliver. I would need to go to CVS, Walgreens or Walmart and get – A Money Pack Scratch Card Clearance Card
Person calling
Kevin Benjamin
Kevinbenjamin071@gmail.com
202-202-8131
Hello Pamela, We’re glad you knew that wasn’t the real PCH. As tempting as it may be, we don’t encourage anyone to engage a scammer any longer than is minimally necessary. Simply tell them you know they’re a scam and hang up. PCH doesn’t notify major winners by phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. You can also check out this FAQ for info on how you can block scammers from contacting you via Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe everyone and be careful of scammers pretending to be the REAL Prize Patrol!
A guy called me from a number in Georgia, USA, identified himself as Danial Reed, and gave me a PIN number and his “badge number”. He said he was from the “Unclaimed Treasuries Department” at PCH. He said they had sent me 2 certified letters, informing me that I had won 2.5 million dollars, or $7,000 per month, plus a 2023 Mercedes Benz. He did not say which model.
I could hear that he was standing on a busy city street, outside.
He started asking for personal information. I gave him none, then thanked him and told him I sincerely hoped that I’d wasted his time.
Hi JC, we’re glad you could tell that was a scammer. 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!
Does PCH ask for a picture of your stat ID card?
Hi Anthony, it sounds like you’ve been contacted by a scammer. PCH does not contact winners of a major prize via phone, text, email, mail, or on Social Media. Also, if anyone asks you for personal information or money for any reason to claim a prize, you can be sure they’re a scammer. 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 have been contacted by various scammers repeatedly, sometimes 8 to 10 times a day, to the point where if you really contacted me at private wouldn’t believe you. I have recordings that I made on my phone of their conversations, their phone numbers, and any other current information that could be used to a prosecute, and I’m more than happy to testify. So due to the extenuating circumstances in the numerous events with scams I’ve had, if I really do ever win and you contact me, please don’t be surprised if I’m a little leery. But I will also be very happy my med care and life needs it to live don’t need all they claimed lol.
Hi Danielle, we’re 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!
I tried to report info yesterday, but because I did not know the dollar amount of my alleged prize, could not complete submission. Today, I have made contact and have an amount, but since this is now active (I bought some time and he wants me to call back tonight), how can I pass the info to catch him in the act?
Hello Susan! 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.
Got a scam call today – did not provide my info as I knew it’s not legit!!!!! I’m giving you name and phone number of man who called:
Jean Gerestani at 3:57 PM Oct. 13, 2022 1-573-###-#####
Isn’t there something you can do to prosecute this person?
Hi Rebecca! 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.
9/20/22
Danielle o Lamm I
from Phoenix NY said I won blank
and all I had to do is send 5 hundred.
Hi Georgette, that is definitely a scammer that 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. 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!!
Hello David, 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!
My winning code they gave me was 204815 I was told not to let anyone know about this or give the code to anyone
Hello Alfred, 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!!
13604363083 Dave Sayer had id card with his picture on it he said I won 15,000.000.00. Danniel said I will give you a code for when they come to my door .Gave them my name and address then they asked for id with my address and name on it. Dave messaged me saying he needed my drivers license to prove it was me. I said no you want to steal my identity. He said ok I will tell the office and you wont get your money. So it was 2 people Daniel and Dave Sayer
Hello Alfred, 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!!