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!
So glad you are on top of things. I say don’t pay just play. Big wins seem to come when most needed. I was told that I was the first PCH blog winner via email. I know it’s a scam so turned it in all are persistent will lock the scanner up. Good luck all.
God bless all at PCH.com blog.
Yes I have as of today been contacted by someone who looks like Danielle on Instagram she sent me pictures of herself but it may have been doctored but she told me today that I won a million dollars and a truck and that she was one hundred percent real and that I would have to pay five hundred dollars for the delivery driver so they could activate my winnings and then later said a thousand dollars and then said a hundred when I told them that’s all I could afford and they told me to buy a steam wallet card and then for me to take a picture of it and send it to then on Instagram so they could copy all the numbers and get the money they said if I did this then and only then they would send the driver out to give me my winnings so how does that sound to all of you out there ? Let me know as soon as possible cause this is a scam in process right this second so hurry please help me PCH
Hi Michael, 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.
Not sure about my case. I never got any request for money from me or sensitive personal info by phone. I did get advance mail notice from Ms. Susan Williamson to expect something in the mail regarding the contest as a possible winner but nothing definite as a real winner. I’m just wondering about Gloria Costa named as Claims Manager for PCH.
Hi Conrad! 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!!
Is this a scam ! To give the code: to verify my address.
Hi Nisa! 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 customer service representatives may be reached at http://bit.ly/ContactPCH between Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 11 PM & Saturday 8:30 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time. We look forward to hearing from you.
got a phone call today from a person by the name Andy Goldberg claiming he was from PCH. He told me that I had won the big jackpot.
The number he used to contact me from was 939-996-3883 and told me to use the code 828411.
Please lets put a stop to these guys once and for all.
They keep calling me at least once or twice a month.
Hello Larry! 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 received a call from someone name Alex King, he told me I won 8.5 million dollar plus a car.
I spoke with him for 5-minutes and knew is was a scam. He said he work for PCH as an agent.
He told me he were sending me some papers and wanted me to fax them back to him.
He did send some fake paper with the PCH Heading from the desk of Rillia Miles which( I Didn’t open) He call back and ask has I receive the paper and I said yes. I ask him why his number show restricted then he because confused and started cussing.
Here’s the #318-409-3824 Name: He used: Alex King / PCH Heading: Desk of Rillia Miles.
Hello Dorothy! We’re happy that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH who contacted you. We will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. We encourage everyone to review the following Safety Tips to better protect themselves from being scammed: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Be careful and stay safe everyone!!
I received a TIME SESITIVE,ADVISORY CASH PRIZE 5,000.00.Gwy20334.Cash prize Awarded Immediately. Activation Code SP$$$
Hi Lorraine! Please submit your code online at http://www.pch.com per the instructions on your postcard. To see all of the other ways of entering into our many exciting giveaways, click here: http://bit.ly/Enter-A-PCH-Sweeps. Good luck to you and all who enter!
Yes, I am 67 and have been scammed in the name of PCH. They said I won first place 2.5 million dollars and a 2022 vehicle. I with keep telling them I thought it was a scam. But, the lady I talked to Deborah Hollins, kept saying no that she could go to prison and she would never do that to anyone. I had such hopes I had just gotten out of hospital 4 weeks ago, and was having to go to Heart Specialist the following Wednesday. She had my name, address, and BIRTHDAY. Then she said all I had to do was give her my SS# and Pay $495.00 to IRS AND BBB WAS EVEN IN ON THIS. AND I DIDN’T HAVE 495.00 AND TOLD HER SO, AND. SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO SEE IF SHE COULD GET A SPONSOR TO PAY THE $495.00. AND HAD TO HAVE MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. SO JUST KNOWING IT HAD TO BE PCH I FINALLY GAVE IT TO HER. SINCE THEN THEY KEEP TRYING TO CALL ME THEY CALLED LAST NIGHT AT 12:39 am and today they have called 2 times. I want answer their calls. I am so heartbroken and feel like I am going to have a nervous breakdown. I have Prayed and Prayed. I just don’t know what to do?? I never gave them my Bank or anything having to do with it.
Hello Kathy, Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Thank you!!
I was contacted by an individual who said he was Michael Collins. He said I had won
$24,000.000. and I needed to pay the taxes up front. I did send two shipments of cash via Fedex to an address in Bridgeport, CT. The next request made me suspicious becasueeI was to send cash to a hotel in Florida. So, I went to PCH.com and saw the SCAM notices you put out. I am out $29,000.
Hi Sally, we’re very sorry to hear about that. 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.
They have been hounding me all this week calling me on the phone. Last week they had me send $500 by US Postal Service. To. Iona Wilson #### NW Terrace, Miami, FL #####. And when she told me she had received the money it’s for the taxes for the money prize to be paid. He also told me that Kay Ivey would be over bringing the money into the state and I needed to pay $1499.99. I did tail Joseph Anthny (### ###-####)I did not have the money he said he thought he we can get some money from people that would help me pay it and then I would have to pay them back. After I receive the money that I had won he called me back the next day to let me know they would help me with my payment and I would pay $599.99. Today I was to go to the bank and get the money and then call him on the phone and he would send me a patch to scan for them to put the money to. I told him I was not going to do it I would lose my house. What told me something was wrong was I have never met this van and he said I had one a car. And it is not a ford
Hi Shirley! 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 more 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!