3 Important PCH Scam Safety Tips

Greetings, fans and friends!

Here’s what makes me happy: Seeing the excited faces of PCH winners – not just PCH SuperPrize winners, but also our lucky, happy winners of smaller prizes.

Here’s what makes me unhappy: Knowing that there are some unscrupulous individuals out there who want to scam honest, hardworking people like you into thinking they’ve won PCH prizes.

And that is why I want to remind you all about 3 important PCH scam safety tips.

PCH Scam Safety Tip #1: You never have to pay a fee, tax or deposit to claim a prize.

If you have ever wondered, “Do you have to pay to claim a PCH prize?” the answer is “NO!”

Not only are PCH sweepstakes and giveaways always FREE to enter, you never have to pay to claim a PCH prize – of any amount – EVER! If you are asked to pay a tax, fee or deposit … send cash or a check … or purchase a Green Dot MoneyPak prepaid card or any other cash card – DON’T DO IT!

At Publishers Clearing House the winning is ALWAYS FREE, and there are NEVER any fees to claiming a prize!  If someone tells you that you’ve won a prize, but that in order to claim it you need to give them money for any reason – STOP – it’s a SCAM!

PCH Scam Safety Tip #2: We never send friend requests or private messages on Facebook.

If you have ever wondered, “Does PCH send friend requests on Facebook?” the answer is “NO!”

If you receive a friend request on Facebook from someone claiming to be a member of the PCH Prize Patrol or a Publishers Clearing House employee, STOP! Do NOT accept the friend request – this is a SCAM! PCH does not send friend requests to anyone, for any reason. You can also actively prevent friend requests from PCH scammers by watching this very helpful video.

PCH employees NEVER send friend requests on social media, so do NOT accept them. And do NOT engage in Twitter or Instagram conversations with people pretending to be from PCH. We NEVER contact you this way!

PCH Scam Safety Tip #3: Never post your personal info online. 

Fans and friends, I read your blog comments every day!  To keep you safe from unscrupulous individuals, please … DO NOT POST ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION on the PCHblog, on the PCH Fan Page on Facebook, or on our Instagram or Twitter pages.   Remember:  Millions of people have access to what you post on social media, and our PCHblog can be read by literally anyone in the world!

What exactly do I mean by personal information?

• DO NOT post your home address, work address or the addresses of any family members.
• DO NOT post your telephone number – your home number, cell number, work number or emergency contact number.
• DO NOT post your Social Security number.
• DO NOT post personal information about your family members.
• DO NOT post any information you find in a PCH mailing or email that scammers could use to their advantage. PCH’s contest drawings are random, and posting any of your SuperPrize numbers will NOT give you an advantage to win!By the way, I know that some of you might want to post personal information online because you may be thinking, “What if I win and I’m not home? How would the PCH Prize Patrol find me?” Well, please rest assured that should you win a major PCH prize, the Prize Patrol will do the research and the legwork … and they will find you on their own!Here at PCH, the safety and security of our fans, friends and customers is a top priority! I hope you’ll remember these 3 important scam safety tips – and if you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer, please fill out our Scam Incident Report right away!

  Stay safe and have fun!

  Debbie K.
  PCH Creative

  P.S. Have you ever been contacted by a scammer pretending to be from PCH? Share your story in the comments below. Knowledge is power!