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
Scammer wanted bank acct. # to send a wire of YOUR $5.5M. I said my account was frozen due to a previous recent hacking/looting (TOO TRUE…. I had asked for lump sum cash). THEN, how about a check drawn on the Federal Reserve? OK! but then they wanted a ”$600K bank fee”. Not possible! Well then, how about a ‘deposit’ of $8K? You gotta give me some 3rd party proof…. the phone # of the bank? ok. Here’s YOUR account # and the Fed. Reserve phone #. Ask about this acct. #. Very convincing, recorded Fed. noises asking what’s the acct. #?…. I give the number; a voice sez $5.5 m in the acct! It all seems very kosher then I notice it’s APRIL FOOLS!… Then I called phone info. for the # for the Fed. Reserve bank. SATURDAY – dead end. Ditto my bank. Called the bad guy back and said I couldn’t raise the money till monday… So send cash…. I can only do snail mail. I’ll make a few calls Monday, and sort it all out, and you’ll have the money Monday, ok? ok!
Hi Henry! Please be careful, that’s definitely a scammer that’s contacted you. 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. Please report them to us at this link: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Have a great day, and stay safe!
I received a call from a person claiming to be a Publishers Clearing House Rep. They claimed that I had won the big prize of $1,000,000. I think that it was a scam.
Hi Larry! You’re right, that’s definitely a scammer. 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!
MY NAME IS RERRICE AND WAS RECENTLY SCAMMED BY A RICHARD WHO SENT ME A PUBLISHERS HOUSE EMAIL STATING THAT I WON BILLION DOLLARS. I FELL FOR IT AND SENT RICHARS AND HIS PARTNER MR.BAXTER #$2,000,00 PLEASE FIND THEM LOCK THEM UP AND I WILL PROSECUTE, THE PHONE NUMBER THEY WERE USING IS 850–800-$$$ please find out whose using number and lock them up please. Thanks.
Hello Terrice, Thank you very much for reporting the scammers that have contacted you. Please report any details you have about that scam contact to us at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I also encourage you to check out these Safety Tips for some great info on what to watch for: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe
Why is there not an “Instant Win” on all the reels on PCH Slots?
I have evidence of a scam from PCH that I need to forward to PCH. I need a good email address to send them this information, so they can see how elaborate the scams have gotten.
Hi Fred! Please report all contacts from scammers to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. PCH does partner with the Federal Trade Commission and we send all scam reports to them so please make sure you let us know anytime a scammer contacts you. Remember, the real PCH never notifies major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask winners to pay to claim their prize. You can see more Safety Tips here: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim.
I received a check in the amount of $4,950 and a letter on Publishers Clearing House stationery, saying that I need to call $$$ $$$-$$$$ upon receiving it and enter security code PCH-$$$$. Is this check a real check and why do I have to call this number?
Hi Cheryl, I’m sorry to say that’s a scam. 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 have received several voicemails from people claiming to be PCH. I have phone numbers from different areas.
Hello Carmen! 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 reported a scam that I fell for and lost $15,000.00. I have since gotten over 55 messages, e-mails phone calls from them. Luckily at the second bank I went to with a $23,100,00 cashier’s check to deposit the teller spotted the problem and gave me back my check and told me what was wrong and asked me to redeposit the check in my bank. I did. This began last Wednesday, January 11 and hasn’t stopped. I am going to report this to the local police. I couldn’t fill out a scam form because I don’t have a customer number.
Hello Carol, Please report all scam contacts to PCH via 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 and thank you!!
I was called and told I won. He wanted me to get green dot cards. I did not fall for it. He used the name Bob Chase #$-$$$-$$$-$$$$.
Hi Linda, 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://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe!
Hi, does the PCH grant program ask for a fee to pay the FEDEX DRIVERS IN APPLE GIFT CARDS? FOR LIKE $150.00? Thank you.
Hi Marcia, it sounds like you’ve been contacted by a scammer. There is no fee to claim a prize you may have won from PCH, for ANY reason. 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!