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 received a call from a Frank Myers ($$$-$$$-$$$$) telling me I have won 15,000,00 dollars and new car. When I called his bluff he used words I can’t repeat.
Hi Judy, we’re 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://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
I was asked to buy gift cards in order to receive a check for $1,000,000.00, and I didn’t receive the check. They’re still contacting me to give them more money, I’m upset I got scammed.
Hi Oliver, we’re very sorry to hear about that. 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!
Well I was contacted 3 or 4 times by phone and was told I had won a prize of a great amount of money. He kept me on the phone so he could congratulate me and asked a few personal questions, but nothing to do with money. He did ask if I had credit cards and a bank account which I did not tell him any info about that. He asked questions about my life that had to do with 401 k and credit card accounts, but I didn’t give him any info on those questions. He asked questions about my life history which I did tell him some info, but nothing all that important, he hung up and said he would call back which he did and started to ask more questions. I had another phone call come in from a friend and told him I had a another call so he said he would call back but has not called back.
Hi James! Please be careful, that’s a scammer calling you. 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/. Stay safe!
Someone called my home number 606 835 2394 twice today 4/15/23. They called at approximately 8:25 am and again at 9:37 am. The first time I hung up on the message and the second time we were screening our calls so they left a message on my answering machine. The message said it was a secure line and I had won an unclaimed monthly prize. It first said the claim number was K2284 but repeated W2284 the second time she spoke the claim number. The phone number I was to call back was supposed to be Publishers Clearing House executive offices at 215 720 1708 which is not a New Jersey number. I tried calling it just to see what they would say. When it was answered it said: Please give my name and Google voice would try to connect me. I didn’t think PCH would answer like that so I hung up without giving my name.
Hello Melva, 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. Stay safe!
My publishers account has been $$$$$$$$. Every time I start playing the games or entering a contest a Apple or Google fake survey appears to win a prize. It blocks PCH completely and if I start over it appears. I am unable to play games or enter the contests so I must inscribe from PCH. When I start to play I get e=mails from Microsoft that someone is trying to enter my account. Sorry I have to close my account on line.
Many thanks,
Bonnie
Account #0$$$$$$$$$$
I received a call from a 1-877-***-****, leaving me a voicemail stating I had won, $2,500,000, a Mercedes Benz for 36 months, and $5,000 a week for life. They included a phone number to call that shows up as Washington DC. The gentleman that I talked to (now on several occasions), asked me a few questions, but never for money. He asked for mailing address & said to watch for forms in the post. He did want to know if I had photo I D, and a bank account. My answer was simply yes to both. I’ve spoken with him at least 5x over the last week & a half, still no hint money I need to pay. Which of coarse I won’t. He did tell me I’d placed 3rd in the sweepstakes!
Hello Jody, That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Thank you!!
I contacted PCH a week or so ago about getting a winner message from PCH. I called in and told them I was scammed out of 2k dollars after I was informed I won 2.2 million and 7k a week. I was told my money would be reimbursed. But I can’t get a straight answer as to the prize did I win and how long before I’m reimbursed.
Hello John, That wasn’t the real PCH. As you know, the Prize Patrol will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via social media, standard mail, email, or phone. Please report any details you have about this scammer to PCH here: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Stay safe everyone!
This person said they did not show up due to Covid. Did not ask for bank account numbers but wanted me to purchase two gift cards from a convince store at $500 each. I was told this was to pay for the UPS courier service to bring the car and escort PCH with two large checks . He said he worked for PCH for 15 years and they would reimburse me and the cards had to be verified by the carrier as valid. I asked why I could not go to the UPS store and pay. He said, “It would not show up in the system (UPS) soon enough.” He said I had to take a photo of the front of the card and send it to him. I did but I covered the last 12 numbers. He also requested a copy of the receipt. He called back and said they had to see all the numbers. He tried to tell me as long as I had the cards no one could use the numbers. I know for a fact that is not true one the front of the cards there is also an expiration date and on line ordering can be done if CID # is not used by many companies. I refused to send the card numbers. He had someone from Dinosaur, CO call who claimed to be his supervisor. I called PCH and asked if David Nelson worked for them and if it was fraud. Maria from customer service said it was. So, when the so called supervisor called I did not even answer. David Nelson called again. Told him I called PCH and this was fraud. He insisted it was not and told me I was blocking myself from my $5,000,000 Win. I said if you really from Publishers Clearing House what did I order last. He said it came out of PA and he could not check. Then he wanted to talk to my husband.
I said no and hung up. He called again this morning. I didn’t even answer the phone nor did he leave a message. He also called the mobile phone today but we did not answer.
Hi Trisha, that’s definitely a scammer. 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 report them 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. You can see more Safety Tips here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
I received a phone call from an impersonator impersonating Publishers Clearing House, stating that I won $3.5 million and a 2023 Mercedes Benz. The individual stated that they sent me a letter in the mail which I have never received, so they wanted me to go to Walgreens and get a card, a money card and hold that money on my card until the UPS truck got to my house and an individual would deliver
the check to me. Also an 18 wheeler would be delivering the 2023 Mercedes Benz. I know that it is a scam because the second person who called stated that the amount is 3 million. The individual’s name is Larry F$$$$$$$: 1-$$$-$$$-$$$$.
Hi Diana! We’re glad you could tell that was a scammer. We would appreciate it if you could report that scammer to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. PCH does partner with the Federal Trade Commission and we send all scam reports to them so please make sure you let us know anytime a scammer contacts you. Remember, the real PCH never notifies major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask winners to pay to claim their prize. You can see more Safety Tips here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
I was contacted this afternoon by a man calling himself Mason M$$$$$$ and saying I had won $75000 and a 2023 Mercedes. I knew from reading warnings on the PCH website that this was a scam. He was full of information like a package number and some other perks. He kept asking if I had received anything in the mail from PCH about my winnings. He also asked if I was familiar with MoneyPak. There was another warning flag! This is the number he called from and made sure I had it written down: $$$-$$$-$$$$.
Hi Anne, we’re glad you could tell that was a scammer! We would appreciate it if you could report that scammer 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://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!