One thing you’ll hear us warn you about over and over again is scammers pretending to be from the real PCH. Unfortunately, this is a big problem. We can’t emphasize it enough. So today I’m going to remind everyone how to identify, avoid and help Spread the Word on Scammers!
It’s unfortunate that we have to worry about this stuff, but we do. I mean, PCH is about making dreams come true, after all. Some popular PCH scams include being asked to pay to claim a prize, false winning notifications on social media and fake social media friend requests. Let’s touch briefly on each.
REMINDER #1: YOU NEVER HAVE TO PAY TO CLAIM A PCH PRIZE
The winning is ALWAYS FREE at PCH. If someone contacts you claiming to be from PCH and tells you that you’ve won a prize – then asks you to send a payment or money card in order to claim the prize – STOP! It’s a scam. Some scammers will send a fake check claiming it’s a partial prize reward and that you need to pay to get the rest. Nice try – but it’s a scam. You NEVER have to pay to claim a PCH prize.
REMINDER #2: PCH WINNERS ARE NOT NOTIFIED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
One of the things we’re most famous for is our PCH Prize Patrol simply showing up at winners’ houses. That’s how we get the best winning moments – by shocking and surprising our winners. If we notified major prize winners on social media, email, phone, letter, etc., there would be NO surprise. Who wants that?
REMINDER #3: PCH WILL NEVER CONTACT YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA
While we’re on the topic of social media, if you receive a friend request from PCH or members of the Prize Patrol, delete it. It’s a scam. Sadly, it’s easy for scammers to set up fake social media accounts and reach out to unsuspecting fans. But it’s also easy to recognize a real PCH social media page. All real PCH-verified social media pages have a blue checkmark at the top of the page. Make sure you look for it.
So, what should you do if you think you’ve been contacted by a scammer? Report it. Just fill out our online PCH Scam Incident Report. Let us handle the rest. Don’t engage with scammers, just report them. For even more guidance, check out our Fraud Protection page. Here you’ll find a lot of great, in-depth information on this topic.
Well, that should do it. Just keep these things in mind, and you should be good to go. Please share this information with family and friends so they, too, can help spread the word on scammers! Take care and be safe!
Tina P.
Online Creative
Great informative and understandable information. I’m here to tell you personally, that I was scrammed on more than one occasion. I have even contacted the FBI, That’s why this clarifies the process of being chosen and informed of being a winner.
I dream of winning PCH Millions and I keep thinking I am going to win 1 day and these scammers keep messaging me on Facebook messenger and pretend to be the awesome real caring men and women from PCH and I get so upset and disappointed and wishing it was real and I won. These scammers I don’t know how they can sleep at night trying to scam me in Facebook. I feel their so many signs coming my way I’m having trouble making ends meet will daily things I need. And I’ll win PCH but never so but I’m not going to let me discouraged and not enter sweepstakes in PCH, Publishers Clearing House.
Hello Holly, We certainly take the issue of scams and the illegal use of our name by scammers very seriously; that’s why we regularly educate our fans on what they can do to protect themselves. Unfortunately, scammers aren’t always easy to locate since many of them operate out of country. Here’s how to report scammers on Facebook: http://bit.ly/ReportPCHScamFB and all other scam contacts can be reported to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. It’s important to remember that the real PCH will never send you a private message or friend request, and we’ll never ask for money to claim a prize. Stay Safe!
I just received a PCH message on Tic Tok, I did talk to her, I never sent a thing. It’s Annoying since I’m poor, if it was real, it would of been awesome and definitely a life changer since I have three kids and a wife to support.
I received a phone call from PH# 917-720-$$$$ and said it was from PCH……. Message was to call back this ph# and report winning code #B5284 to claim prize…….. I called and received a male representative answering, and he had a “foreign accent”. He said after I gave that claim #B5284, he would now call me back. I told him I suspected him as a “scammer” and he denied that…..
I said goodbye, and left it at that. I have not received any call back from that phone #, and if I do, I will not answer… Definitely a PCH scam I believe………………. GOODBYE SCAMMER……….
Hello We’re glad you knew that wasn’t the real PCH. As tempting as it may be, we don’t encourage anyone to engage a scammer any longer than is minimally necessary. Simply tell them you know they’re a scam and hang up. PCH doesn’t notify major winners by phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. You can also check out this FAQ for info on how you can block scammers from contacting you via Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe everyone and be careful of scammers pretending to be the REAL Prize Patrol!
I’m not sure if I received a call from the PCH the #$$$ $$$-$$$$, with the claim #19500. I spoke with Mr. P$$$ who verified my information and stated they were coming to my house on Friday March 31, 2023. When he asked how I wanted to receive the information I stated in writing, and the phone call went to a Busy Ring right away. Can someone please let me know what’s going on with this. Thanks!
Hi Jacqueline! 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. Make sure to 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. Stay safe!
Please have someone contact me ASAP ! Email me and I will give you my number ! My account has been hacked. Call me 386-$$$-$$$$ ASSP
Some one said that I won a prize and was talking about how I would have to go about collecting the money, they want me to give them a picture of my ID and email address and occupations. What do I do?
Hi Edwin! Please be careful, that’s a scammer pretending to be with 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 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. Please don’t reply to them! Instead, report them to PCH by filling out a scam incident report for us 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-2/. Have a great weekend, and stay safe!
Unfortunately I got scammed out of $650.00 on Apple Cards. They said they needed it for insurance to cover my cashiers check for $200,000.00and a new BMW. They showed me pictures of a FEDEX employee, the cashiers check and the new BMW. I fell for it like a old fool 😪. Now I don’t trust anything until I check it out with the BBB or a Fraud department 💯.
Hello Jacqueline! We’re sorry to hear that you have been contacted by scammers. 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’m sorry for me BUT I WAS A VICTIM OF A GOOD SCAMMED WHO STOLE $150 FROM ME I’M A SINGLE FATHER AND DISABLED HUMAN BEING SO I WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS SCAMMED
Hi Robert! 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.
Hi I talked with Publishers Clearing House yesterday and customer service was so polite yes I told her that I had a collar that said he had won a vehicle and $7,000 and seen my name and picture listed beside his and wanted to know if I had received my award I was completely dumbfounded and excited at the same time since I’m handicap I explained to the gentleman of my position of being hit by a drunk driver and Flatline three times and how the Lord had saved me and that I went on to tell him my testimony and telling him of Our Lord God Jesus and actually I convince them that has called to me and my message to him was a message from the Lord he wanted me to call WhatsApp with a phone number and tell them I was claiming my prize and to give them my information but after I exposed God and his miracles I think I turned him and told him to change his ways of the scandalous scam that he was involved with I didn’t go on to explain to Europe everything but she had asked me to call your fraud department so there are scams out there that they are telling PCH entries to call WhatsApp and give them their information I think they should be posted as I will on Facebook thank for a wonderful experience with your customer service department I appreciate them listening to my testimony as well God bless you all and all that God loves you cross your fingers for me thank you bye-bye