As our fans well know, Publishers Clearing House is a famous brand notorious for handing out massive sums of money. Unfortunately, because PCH is such a recognizable name tied to big-money winners, this dynamic lends itself to different Publishers Clearing House impersonator scams and swindlers using our good name.
While Publishers Clearing House has been a reputable company for nearly 70 years, PCH scams do exist. Because of this lamentable fact, we want to show you what to look out for so that you can avoid these kinds of frauds and how to protect yourself from Publishers Clearing House impersonator scams that emerge from time to time.
On that note, let’s take a look at how to stay safe against potential PCH impersonator scams.
Staying Safe from PCH Impersonator Scams
While there are different kinds of PCH impersonator scams, the thing that each Publishers Clearing House impersonator scam shares in common is that they contact fans stating that they have won a prize, likely a considerable amount of money.
The fact is that Publishers Clearing House will never contact major prize winners to let you know that you have won money. When PCH fans win big, we show up at their house unannounced, cameras rolling, so that we can capture their big moment. PCH will not contact you via social media, phone call, text message, or similar means of outreach.
In the event that PCH does contact a winner, it will be one who won $10,000 or less, and that will typically be done via an overnight express carrier such as UPS, FedEx or USPS Express Mail.
Therefore, to stay safe from PCH impersonator scams, you will want to make sure that you never post your personal information online (such as address, social security number, birth date, phone number, etc.) and to never give over your bank account information to someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House.
On that note, let’s take a moment to talk about the kinds of PCH impersonator scams that our fans might encounter.
Publishers Clearing House Impersonator Scam Types
As it stands, there are several types of PCH impersonator scams that fraudsters will utilize.
The first is an attempt to retrieve personal information from a person, including some of the things mentioned earlier (social security number, address, date of birth, etc.). In essence, these people are looking to commit identity fraud. Therefore, you should never give out any of this information online, particularly to those who are claiming to be from PCH.
The second kind of Publishers Clearing House impersonator scam involves trying to extract money from a person. This can be done in a couple of different ways.
The first is that the scammer will ask for your bank account information to deposit your “PCH winnings.” Again, Publishers Clearing House will never ask for your banking info, which means that anyone asking for these details have nefarious intentions. The second is that the scammer will go as far as to send you a fake check. However, in the United States, sweepstakes sponsors will need to send the winner an affidavit prior to sending any check over $600. Thus, if you have not received an affidavit, there is a good chance you are being set up by a fraudster. To avoid this kind of sham, it is wise to familiarize yourself with fake check scams.
How to Report PCH Impersonator Scams
With this understanding of different PCH impersonator scams, how to spot them, and how to avoid getting caught in one, the only thing left is to learn how to report a Publishers Clearing House impersonator scam.
To make things as easy as possible for our friends and fans, we have created a dedicated PCH impersonator scam reporting page that will walk you through the process, asking everything we need to know about you and the incident. The info will then be shared with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US Postal Service, and police and law enforcement officials to help put an end to the scam.
Protecting Yourself Again PCH Impersonator Scams
We hope this information was helpful and successfully protects you from any potential PCH impersonator scams (and other types of internet scams) that you may encounter.
Tell us, has anyone tried to scam you in the name of PCH? How did you know it was a scam? Let us know in the comments section below!
I believe someone has access to my PCH acct . I can’t set up my contacts with PCH, and I never recieve acknowledgement that I recieve previous searches . Something phishy going on I believe . I can’t send reply out to anyone . They always get rejected. I IP address list area in California but I live in Washington Stat
Hi Michael! Thank you for contacting PCH. In order for us to assist you with your question we will need a bit more information. We kindly ask that you contact us by phone at your convenience. Our representatives are here to assist you Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. & Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time by calling our toll free number at 1-800-459-4724. Let us know if you need anything else!
Hi Dick! 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’ve been victimized by this clowns on Facebook claiming to be Facebook top official but the winning pictures was PCH petrol, but anyway they manage to steal my password that I still can’t recover and I don’t feel like Facebook anymore. Now is just PCH hopefully they bless me someday..
Hello Ratu, please do not accept friend requests from people claiming to be from PCH. Do not share ANY information with them, and please report this scam to us by completing a scam incident report. Click this link to find out how: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Visit this link to help keep yourself safe: https://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Please be safe!
Well back in 2020 I entered PCH sweepstakes while in Florida I got back to the VI My daughter called and said a letter came from themsaying to fill out a form and they issued me a ticket number for the drawing Later in the year some one named Paul Anderson called and said i was a winner and how much money for fees the came a Alex Morgan from Jamaica who said he also worked for the company he said he lived in Oceanside California then there was John Spencer they are professional scammers I wish they get caught
Hello Ingrid, 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!!
Got a call that said I was a 7 million winner. by agent Mr. james White. and a briefcases of Titanium with 550,000.00 in it. and 7 mil. cashiers check and 5,000.00 weekly till I die. also a 2022convertible Mercedes benz car. all taxes takn care of fully but they need aVisa Vanilla gift card. for 600.00 for receipt of check? Then we take it to Wells Fargo Bank to put money in bank. Called on 876 348 6993 and sent pics. on 765 300 2957.
Hello Loretta, 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 too, was notified of a “Big” Win…was emailed 6 pages w/ all the data and the usual
request for money up front to cover Gov. Taxes, asking to get a special bank account and it goes on. The main number 1-800-###-9242, toll free, and the main contact
number for the “Prize Control” : 516-###-5432. Main Branch: 1-859-###-2969.
So, as much as I would like to win something in my life, this is “Too True To Be Good”.
Thus, it is another “Sign of the Times” !!
Hi Sue, 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 was contacted this morning at 7:00 a.m. the phone number is 929 414 2260. The code number they gave is 404829. I didn’t give them any information because I didn’t speak to anyone.
Hello Ruby, keep in mind that 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 Ransey, 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 received a voice mail message stating I was a winner of prize $5.5 million,a 2021 Ford Explorer with the vin number and $7000 a week for life. All the taxes were paid to the IRS -$85,250. Now, I needed to buy government approval stamps-a green stamp – treasury department- and a black stamp from the Fed. Res. I was to send a cashiers check for $9,500 for cost of the stamps, then I would be refunded the stamp money. when I was presented with the prizes.
Michael Collins is principal agent for this deal. There is another sweepstakes in —volved also but I don’t remember the name. IS THIS A LEGITIMATE PRIZEž_
Hi Arthur, I’m sorry to tell you that was a scammer, not the real 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 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 report them to us at this link: https://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/. Take care!
I received a call on my home phone and on my cell today telling me I had won the sweepstakes. When you call the number back they answer publishers clearinghouse. I have seen on tv you surprise the winner,that was a giveaway something was off.
Hi Rebecca, the real PCH does not 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!!