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!
Yes I got scammed twice. Now I am more careful. I heard I am winning $15.000.000.00 They will knock on my door on Monday the 30est this coming Monday. Is this a scam? I am getting scared.
Hello Josephine, Stopping these scammers is a team effort. 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. We ask that you report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I recommend you also check out this PCH blog article to see how you can prevent scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe everyone and be careful of scammers pretending to be the REAL Prize Patrol!
On line interaction, I came across a Danielle Lam. I was told I won the prize of more than 323,000.00. In the earlier conversation, everything seems to be realistic. The interaction was going fine. I was also instructed to follow some procedures, until I was told to send $100.00.I googled on how PCH process the guidelines & procedures to inform the winner. There should not have any $$$ involved. I did more research and then all the information I received earlier was bogus. When she asked for $100 for administrative expenses I realized that I am involving myself on fake infos. I even said, just send me the ck and I can give you more than what you asked for. That was the end of my interaction on line with her. I am sure it could be a fake Danielle Lam I dealt with.
Hello Arcelina, That is a scammer posing as Danielle! The real Danielle doesn’t privately contact winners via Facebook and you never need to pay to claim a PCH prize. Do not give the scammer ANY of your personal information. 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. Check out our Fraud Protection site to see how to stay safe: https://bit.ly/PCHFraudPrevention.
Do pch randomly call people if you haven’t enter.
So I go at a letter in the mail stating I won a big sum of money, didn’t ask any money. But does want me to call ND give them a claim # ND does state in the letter they would provide van balloons media if wanted is this real his name they ask me to contact is James. Now is this legit or not.
Hello Rickie, We’re so 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. Stay safe everyone!
DO YOU HAVE TOO GET IT ACTIVATED TOO GET YOUR WINNINGS.
DO YOU HAVE TOO ACTIVATE YOUR WINNINGS.
Does PCH call you with a 3 million winning and schedule a time to meet at your house the next day with patrol with radio station?
Hello Pat, Winners will be notified through UPS delivery, Express mail, email or in person by our famous Prize Patrol at our option. We would never contact any of our winners in advance, nor will you have to pay any fees to receive your prize.
If you won:
– Less than $600, the winner will receive the check via regular mail.
– $600.00 to $9,999.99 in a calendar year, an affidavit of eligibility has to be notarized and returned back within 30 days and the check will then be sent out to you.
– Anything over $10,000 will be awarded by the famous Prize Patrol.
We wish you the best of luck!
Ok I got a guy on my phone saying I won 28.8 million. Is it real or fake? He told me to get a vanilla gift card, is this real?
Hi Arden! 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. Stay safe!
I got a call saying that I won and they needed $205.00 so I could get my money and a very expensive car. I said this is a scram and hung up.
Hi Cynthia, we’re glad you could tell that was a scam. 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!
Hey it’s $$$$$$$$$$$$$@gmail.com. Please send the PCH Prize Patrol to my house address like this week, I need my winnings. No scams please. I want my winnings PCH!
Norris G$$$ J$$$$$$