Hello, PCH fans and friends! We want to remind you of an important thing to remember about WINNING BIG.
“Is This for Real?”
Let’s say you’re sitting in front of the TV after a long day, taking it easy watching your favorite show, when the phone rings. You look down at the caller ID and jump right out of your seat. Is this for real? Could it possibly be??
Can you believe it, they say they are Publishers Clearing House! Calling with news about your BIG PRIZE! Did you really just win One Million Dollars?
HOLD UP, don’t fall for that call! Scammers LOVE to try to trick people (like you, loyal PCHers) with advance notifications about winning prizes or big money from PCH. It’s one of the most common scams we see around here.
How We DON’T Contact You
Besides calling you on the phone, scammers will send texts and email, or even privately message people to tell them they’ve won. Would you believe some scammers go so far as to mail phony letters with fake checks inside? PCH never does any of those things, so that’s how you can recognize it’s a scam.
Also, do NOT answer a friend request from Danielle or Howie – the Prize Patrol and PCH don’t send friend requests. We do happily interact with fans on our official blue-check social pages (just don’t post any of your personal info there!).
So Let’s Say It Once More…
Publishers Clearing House will NEVER notify winners of major prizes ahead of time. NEVER. You’ll know you’re being scammed if you receive a phone call, text or other alert from someone claiming to be PCH with a Big Check with your name on it. Chances are they’re going to ask YOU to send THEM money in order to claim the prize.
Remember, at Publishers Clearing House, winning is 100% FREE. ALWAYS. We will NEVER call you asking for money to claim winnings. Don’t fall for the friend request from someone masquerading as a Prize Patrol member. It’s FAKE, FAKE, FAKE.
Remember, there’s only ONE WAY to find out if you’ve won a SuperPrize from PCH – if the Prize Patrol shows up at your door with a Big Check in your name! Scammers are smarter and more relentless than ever, so we urge you to stay safe and vigilant, and never EVER respond to a notification that you’ve won a prize or answer a friend request. We can’t emphasize it enough!
We’re all In It to Win It… but safely!
Just got a FedEx letter asking us to contact someone at a particular email address. Is this legit?
Hi Donna! 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! 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!
How do I report it when they already have contacted me and sent me pictures of the check and all of the other information saying that I won money and a car, what can I legally do about this? Thanks…
Hello Joseph, 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
Just got a phone call, I won 7 million and a Mercedes,, lol. The number is $$$-$$$-$$$$. It sounds real enough until you go to claims, the guy asks for your name, and then ask you what your name is,, but the initial recording sounds very real, but it isn’t. My claim number was $$$$$$$,
Hi Jim! We’re glad you could tell that was not the real PCH calling 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!
Does PCH have second place winners? I was contacted by someone claiming to be a agent from PCH and also from FedEx, claiming that they have documents that I need to pay for before my winnings can be put in my name, so as I can get my winnings of $100,000.00 + a new truck also. Is this something you do?? As I was contacted by someone claiming to be a agent from PCH lottery and I am being contacted by the FedEx office in Richmond Virginia, saying that they have these documents that need to be in my name in order for me to claim my winnings. They want me to send them money for these documents they’re claiming they have. Is this something you do?
Hi Eugene! Please be careful, those are scammers, 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! 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!
Then how do you contact people that won smaller prizes? Are those games just a scam? Thanks
There is a person right now called Daniele I am _232 on Instagram asking me for my name, address, phone number, and ID to verify that I am the winner of a brand new truck to be delivered today. She also requested my password to my IG account. I asked her for a valid ID and she sent me the driver’s license for Danielle with all her information on it I have a copy of all our text messages from IG.
Hi Laura, we’re sorry to hear the scammers are bothering you. You can 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 paid $750.00 and another request for $800.00. I refuse to pay any more.
Hi Donald! 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 more 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!
Received letter saying I was the second place winner of Readers Digest and Publishers Clearing House winning 2 and half million dollars, I’m to take the check to bank and deposit it. Then call my claims manager and tell him. Is this real or scam, thanks.
Hi Roger, that’s definitely a scammer that contacted 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!
Just received a call from a James Baker telling me I won a car and $7000 for life. He was very convincing, the number he called from is his supervisor $$$ $$$-$$$$. His name was James Baker said he was a U.S. citizen but could hardly speak English.
Hi Bea, that’s definitely a scammer. It’s important to remember that PCH does not contact winners of a major prize via phone, text, email, mail, or on Social Media. Also, if anyone asks you for money for any reason to claim a prize, you can be sure they’re a scammer. Please don’t give them any money, or any personal information! Scammers are very sneaky and will use our good name and reputation to try to deceive people. Stopping them is a team effort so please report any and all scam contacts you receive to PCH at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. We provide numerous videos, blogs, and tips to recognize these scammers here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Stay safe!
Very disappointed that I didn’t win that $2.5 Million, 2023 S Class Mercedes (won’t fit I’m a large dude) $7000 cash for life, 3 yrs of Gieco Insurance, and a Gas card for 3 years. Gary Brown number 917-382-$$$$ was super convincing.
Hello Robewrt, Stopping these scammers is a team effort and we ask that you report all scam contacts to PCH via this 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! Stay safe everyone and be careful of scammers pretending to be the REAL Prize Patrol!