Accessibility Statement

How To Report A PCH Scammer

Hi friends and fans! I hope today finds you well!

As a fan and follower of PCH, I bet you know all about the different ways to get in to WIN. Maybe you even dream of finding the Prize Patrol on your doorstep with champagne, flowers, and the “Big Check” made out TO YOU.

But have you ever thought about what you’d do if you were contacted by a Scammer pretending to be from the real PCH?

Scammers have lots of tricks up their sleeves, and here at PCH, we want to keep you in to win and above all – SAFE! In fact, Danielle from the Prize Patrol has some safety tips for you. Check out this video!

Now, let’s say that you HAVE been contacted by a scammer. What steps should you take next?

Whether a scammer has contacted you by phone, by postal mail, by email or by social media, don’t wait: fill out the online PCH scam form as soon as you can. You will be guided step-by-step through the process. Our goal is to keep you and all of our other PCH friends and fans protected!
Here are some other ways to help you STOP fraudulent Scammers in their tracks:

If someone tells you that you’ve won a major prize from PCH through social media (Facebook or Instagram)…

STOP!
PCH employees and Prize Patrol Members will NEVER contact you this way

Likewise, if you get a friend request or private message from someone claiming to be a PCH employee or a Prize Patrol Member…

STOP!
The Prize Patrol will NEVER send friend requests or private messages to you. EVER!

If someone says you must pay a fee or purchase something to claim your prize…

STOP!
There is NEVER a fee or a purchase required – at PCH the winning is always FREE!

If someone asks you to verify personal information (credit card number, bank account number, driver’s license number)…

STOP!
We will NEVER ask you for that information – and you should NEVER provide it to someone you don’t know!

Please remember: our BIG PRIZES are awarded live and in person by our famous Prize Patrol. Major prize awards and SuperPrize winners are NOT notified by email.

We may notify winners of smaller prize amounts by overnight express from UPS, FedEx or USPS Express Mail and occasionally through email (and if we do, rest assured: there’s no fee to claim ANY PRIZE!)

In the meantime, don’t let the scammers keep you from enjoying PCH to the fullest! There’s a $1,000.00 A Day For Life Prize in our special early look event that’s ready for award on October 31st! If there’s no match to the winning number, an alternate winner will be selected to receive a millionaire-making base prize instead.
With so much at stake in JUST WEEKS, enter every day and every way you can!
Go to PCH Sweepstakes
• Play at PCHgames
• Get news and entertainment info at PCHfrontpage
• Take a quiz at PCHquizzes
• Visit the PCH Fan Page on Facebook or download our PCH app (you can get a free download for both Android and Apple)

Stay safe everybody!

All the best,
Maria S.
PCH Online Creative

More Blog Posts of Interest:

What To Do If You’re Contacted By A Publishers Clearing House Scammer

How To Avoid Sweepstakes Scams

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Comments

  1. I was contacted by on July 11th around 2pm. Told I won 1 million dollars plus $50,000 in cash. His name was Michael Anderson his phone number is 805-323-3591. We were told to go to dollar general and buy a Green Dot money pack. So we did for $405.00. Then 2 hours later he tells us we need to get another one for the border patrol for the same amount so we did. We are at $810.00. He calls back one hour ago and says we need 2 more cards. We told them no. So we are $810.00 that we couldn’t afford in the first and am ashamed that we fell for this. I am so angry

    1. Hello Kevin, that is definitely a scammer who contacted you! 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 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!

  2. Got a call from 702-996-2574 claiming I had won $7000 a month for life. Used the name of a postmaster general. I did not call back.

  3. I was contacted by phone message on 6/27/2022 at about 4PM stating that I was the 1st place grand Promotion winner of the 6.5 Million dollar give away. a 2022 Mer. Bens SUV, 7,000.00 Dollars a week for life. Contact Richard Peterson at # 1-716-501-8284 or 1-516-268-1666 immediately. I did call got a answering machine state I had just contacted Mr Peterson which was not available please leave my name and contact number and he would get back to me. I did and have not heard anything from him as of today 6/28/2022 9.05 AM.

    1. Hi Jeffery! 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!

  4. Got a phone call, from West Virginia, say I had won a 1.5 million dollar check, a 2022 Mercedes AND 95,000 in cash. Guess what? I’ve never even entered the contest in my life!! I’ve got the phone numbers, and I also scammed him back!! It was well worth the 20 bucks….which I am getting back!!!

    1. Hi Linda, 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. We 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 and be careful of scammers pretending to be the REAL Prize Patrol!

  5. I was contacted by phone and told I won $700 000.00 and the prize control would come to my house on Friday. I told him I believe it when I see it. The other day I received a letter from Canada . I again was to receive $750.000.00 . Also they included a check in the amount of $ 94000. Which will pay the taxes. I was to call a number and arrange for the payment. I ignored the whole spiel.

  6. I was contacted by phone they said I won the grand prize. He said his name is Josh Costello. He told me that I if I wanted to get my check I had to send him around $900.00. Which of course I did not send His phone number is 715-705-0297. I told him to come to my town [I would pay for his air fare and both of us will go to the bank and I will cash the check and then I would give him the $900.00 He hung up right away.

  7. I was scammed by someone representing himself as Todd Sloane I’m embarrassed but I pray he gets caught he’s from New Jersey I called PCH They said they would report to the FTC but haven’t heard anything yet.

    1. Hello Alice, 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.

    1. Hello Laurie, 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.