Accessibility Statement

Does PCH Notify Winners Before Showing Up at the Door? NO!

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.

That’s right, buddy!

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!

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Comments

  1. Today 4-27-23 I Recd from $$$-$$$-$$$$, a personal SCAM claiming Publishers Clearing House name Raymond Allen. Gave long speech detailing me as a winner of 5.6 M. On 4-29-34 would receive money from Dave @ Prize control. First I had to pay $1250. Called me back 3 hrs. Later for instructions to send only $850. They reduced my winning fee $400. I refused.

    1. Hi Elizabeth, we’re glad you could tell that was a scammer. With our sweepstakes 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. You can read more about these kinds of scams here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection. Pease report them to us at this link: https://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. Have a great day, and stay safe!

  2. Yes, my name is Ashley and I received a letter saying that it’s a code to activate, I believe I did it correctly but it doesn’t tell or show me whether or not I did how can I find out.

  3. Thank you for the information! I have been receiving phone calls from “PCH” saying I won $15 million & a Mercedes. #1)I didn’t remember entering anything & #2) I thin it’s great that you allow people to check on the calls. Again, THANK YOU!!

    1. Hello Shari, PCH and the Prize Patrol do not take awarding winners lightly; it’s very important to all of us that a winner is found and awarded their prize. If a winner is not home, the Prize Patrol will do whatever it takes to locate them. Rest assured, if you are our lucky winner, you will receive your award. On giveaway days we encourage everyone to go about business as usual. With that being said, there are many times that the Prize Patrol has surprised winners at their place of employment. They’ve also found winners in hospitals, at church, even on vacation! Check out this FAQ for more info about winners not being home: http://bit.ly/If-Winner-Not-Home.

  4. My mom received a call that she got $750,000 and a tahoo and they’ll be there tomorrow at 11am . They didn’t ask for an address. Reading this concerns me because she lives alone…

  5. Thank you for the above message. I was called on the phone by Executive Director of PCH Larry Erickson, saying I had won over a $1,00,000. I only need to send $8,000 for the IRS and the check will be delivered to me, personally.

    Thank you again for the above Message.
    It sounds exciting to win.

    1. Hi Colleen, I’m sorry to hear the scammers are bothering you. 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. Stay safe!

    1. Hi Gareth! 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. Stay safe!

    1. Hi Sherry! Our major prize winners are awarded in person by our famous Prize Patrol, with no prior warning! For more information on how we notify our winners, please click this link: https://bit.ly/3LcKn48. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any further questions!

  6. John Baker at $$$ $$$-$$$$ says he represents PCH. He started texting me Thursday at 4:21. Is this a scam? My name is Betty V$$$$$$. My email is $$$$$$$@hotmail.com. Your help would be of great assistance.

    1. Hi Betty! 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. 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://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Please be careful everyone; don’t become a scammer’s victim!

  7. What if prize patrol comes by and I am not home? I received a call that happened. I wasn’t asked to pay anything just told that they will return to deliver my prize.