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!
I’ve received a call and I didn’t get a chance to talk to anyone they just left a message telling me I was a winner. Please check for me I really hope it wasn’t a scam.
Hello Patrice, We certainly take the issue of scams and the illegal use of our name by scammers very seriously; that’s why we regularly educate our fans on what they can do to protect themselves. Publisher Clearing House will never notify our major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. You can do your part to help us by reporting all scam contacts that you receive. Here’s how to report scammers on Facebook: http://bit.ly/ReportPCHScamFB and all other scam contacts can be reported to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to take a look at this blog article for some great tips on how you can stop scammers from contacting you on Facebook: http://bit.ly/StopFBScammers. Stay safe everyone!
This is Kathy. I have been getting calls and Tex from John Cooper and John Freeman saying I have won because of all the scam that’s happening to me. please they or both asking for money and I think they or scammers but I would feel really stupid if they or for real and I loose out this close to XMAS. Please help me fast and tell me do o they work for PCH, it’s Xmas and I would love for my kids to have a wonderful Xmas so I don’t want to send 600 or more dollars and my family be disappointed in me. Thank you for your quick response, they told to pay in the morning they say I won millions. HELP!
Hello Kathy, We’re glad you knew that wasn’t the real PCH. As tempting as it may be, we don’t encourage anyone to engage a scammer any longer than is minimally necessary. Simply tell them you know they’re a scam and hang up. PCH doesn’t notify major winners by phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we 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 and be careful of scammers pretending to be the REAL Prize Patrol!
Just received another scam about being a winner!
This is the second call from the same scammer
The caller ID is: fascollyweller ph#888-776-$$$$ @5:41pm on Nov30, 2023.
Hello Aurie, Thanks so much for the warning! That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. Please do not call that number, do not give the scammer any personal info including bank account information, and definitely do not send them any money if they ask. PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. If you haven’t already done so, please report that scam contact to us via the following link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I encourage you to read these Safety Tips too: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!
Ok I received 2 phone calls saying I won a prize .They wanted to speak to me and my wife on speaker phone. The numbers where 312 746-7159 and 312 746-6032. They also said they would be at my house on Friday Dec. 1 between 9 am and 1pm with the prize patrol
Hello Michael, With PCH, a purchase is never required to enter or to win. The real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. Please report all scam contacts to PCH via this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Thank you!!
I currently have a person claiming to be from PCH on my phone. Asking for 3 items to claim the prize:
– Proof of Identification
– Claim # that they provided.
– Registration Claimers Card -Secure Spend that can be bought at a local store – You will need to pick up two cards totaling $987.30 into two payments with the receipt.
calling from 1-410-714-$$$$
Hello Tracy, Thank you very much for reporting the scammers that have contacted you. Stopping them is a team effort and we are happy that you are doing your part. We also don’t notify winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media. As a reminder, you can report scammers to PCH at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Be careful and stay safe everyone!!
Currently I have a representative of PCH on my phone. Whoops just got disconnected from
1-516-715-$$$$!
Hello Anna, That is not the real PCH calling you; it’s a scammer that’s only pretending to be from PCH. 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. 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!
Do you have a man name Jack Smith?
Hello Bernice, 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. 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.
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!!
We received a voice
mail stating we won 7k a week, left phone number 929-526-5320 and left a claim number of 85031. Obviously we did not take the bait so we did not call them back .
Hello LD, 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. Stay safe and have fun!
I was scammed yesterday, wish it was real, I’m homeless and no ride, even said I won 1 million. Heart Breaking.
Hello Darrell, 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 and have fun everyone!
A girl named Amber from Cooper and McGill law firm just called me. She says a carrier service will be delivering my check in person on Monday, November 27 between 9 and 11 AM. ? ???
Hello Kat, 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!!