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 got a phone message saying I won $1,950,000.00. I sent a letter to PCH asking about it. April 4, 2023 I received a letter about winning this amount. It was from Deborah Holland with a woman’s picture saying she was the Executive Vice President. It said I was one of three winners in the Mega Millions Prize Payout…
Hi Susan, 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 don’t give them any money, or any personal information! Scammers are very sneaky and will use our good name and reputation to try to deceive people. Stopping them is a team effort so please report any and all scam contacts you receive to PCH at this link: http://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!
I was scammed by someone using the name Danielle Lambert using PCH NAME. I CALLED PCH AND REPORTED IT!!! I TRULY THOUGHT I WON A CAR. LOST ALOT OF MONEY.
I didn’t realize that I was being scammed, I actually thought I had won a prize. I didn’t know that I wouldn’t be contacted prior to them showing up. Just finished reading your info posted and realized I had been a victim of a scam.
Hi Susie, we’re very sorry to hear that happened to you. Please 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!
A man called me, gave me his name, Roger Davis. He told he was from PCH and that I had won. He called me from a #$$$-296-7263. He was very persistent and said for me to send $2000.00 but, told him I would not be able to, he tried for a lesser amount and that he would hold on to it until I had the full amount. When he started calling me brother, I became suspicious.
Hello Osvaldo, We are so happy that you knew that was not the real Publishers Clear House that contacted you. We will never ask for money to claim a prize. We also don’t notify winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media. When the scammers try to contact you again, simply tell them that you know they’re not the real PCH and hang up or disconnect your mode of contact with them. To stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook, check out this PCH Blog article: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. As a reminder, you can report scammers to PCH at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Be careful and stay safe everyone!!
I was called by John Baker, $$$ $$$-$$$$, and told I won $5.6 M, address was $$$ W$$$$$$$$$ Blvd. He began to ask questions to verify my identity. When he asked for my SS # I refused and he got upset. He did get some personal info before I realized it was a scam, please help.
HI Gertie, we’re sorry to hear the scammers are bothering you. Please report them to us here: 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 tried your scam reporting system, and it would not accept my information because I didn’t have my PCH account number. So here is my story…
Today, May 22, 2023, we received a voicemail from PCH….I was a winner, confirmation # 4711 and to call 631 402 9114. A few hours later my husband and I returned the call. I gave the person the conf.#. We did not give our name. They had our names, address, and age. They told us we won 15 million and a new Mercedes Benz. The person’s name was James O Connell, phone 315 817 0453. He wanted us to open a new bank account so they could wire us $500,000 so we would have the money to pay for taxes on the $15 million. They have emailed us several documents to sign and return. They’ve called several more times today, we have not answered or opened the emails. We went to the PCH website and were reassured this was a scam. They were good. Very scary. If you want the email they sent, please contact us and we will forward.
Karen
Hello Karen, We’re so glad that you knew that wasn’t the real PCH. As you know, the Prize Patrol will 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. Stay safe everyone!
THIS IS A IMPERSONATOR SCAM. HIS NAME IS MARVIN MILLER, HIS PHONE – $$$ $$$-$$$$. HE WANT US TO GO TO WALMART AND GET A GREEN DOT MONEY CARD. PLEASE STOP THIS GUY. HE IS TO COME TO MY HOME. HOW DID HE GET THAT. I DID NOT TELL HIM. HE KEEPS CALLING. WHAT SHALL WE DO.
Hi Arnold, we’re sorry to hear the scammers are bothering you. Please hang up right away if he calls back, and do not give the scammer any personal info or any money. 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://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
Yes, I got a phone call around 1:30pm, May 16, 2023 saying I won 2.5 million and a black sunroof Mercedes Benz car. Now I have problems with high blood pressure. Hearing something like this gets your heart racing, I already knew it was a scam. They said they were Publishers Clearing House, I knew I haven’t filled anything out. They gave me a pin number and deliver number, they also said the better business bureau knew about them calling me. And then they said get a one vanilla gift card, my heart is racing to go off on this call. They said there name was John Henderson, I know that’s not true either. They have called about fifteen times since 1:30 pm. They are scammers.
Hello Avandia, I am really happy that you knew that it was not the real PCH who contacted you! We never notify major winners over the phone or through standard mail, email or Facebook. Please complete a Scam Incident Report. Here’s how: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Please be careful everyone!!
My daughter received a call on 5/12/23 from a man with a foreign accent claiming to be from PCH. He told her she had won a large sum of money. I intervene and told him this is a scam because PCH doesn’t call you, they show up at your door unannounced. He became hostile because I said, “this is a scam. “. I told him I am writing down everything you are saying. He hung up.
Hi Mary, we’re very sorry to hear the scammers are bothering you. 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. 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 have been receiving calls from a man named Steve Cannon. He says that he works for PCH and that I have won 8.5 million. I have not entered a PCH contest for years. His ID card that he sent a picture of says American Rewards, Phone #$$$-$$$-$$$$. Today when he called he said that the bank that put everything together wants $3,000. I told him that I did not have that money and I thought he was scamming me. He said no. What bothers me is that he has my home address, which I did NOT give him. He wanted to meet this Wednesday. I called PCH and was told that they Never call winners. This Mr. Cannon said that he worked in a special Dept. that most of PCH employees don’t know about.
Hi Dorothy, 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 don’t give them any money, or any personal information! Scammers are very sneaky and will use our good name and reputation to try to deceive people. Stopping them is a team effort so please report any and all scam contacts you receive to PCH at this link: http://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!