When a Pennsylvania man opened his mail, the last thing he expected to find was a check for $12.5 million from Publishers Clearing House [*]. Here are descriptions of the latest Publishers Clearing House scams and what you can do to avoid them: The PCH check scam works by convincing victims to cash a fake check and transfer a portion of the proceeds back to the scammers.. . To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. Publishers Clearing Houses fraud protection page, doTERRA distributors charged with making unfounded COVID-19 cure claims, Tenant screening practices: the FTC wants to learn more. 0000017226 00000 n The Publishers Clearing House only uses their Prize Patrol to notify major award winners. 0000033766 00000 n So, Ill wait till Dave, Howie, or Daniel knock on.my door with balloons, and flowers!.! Related: How To Protect Your Bank Account From Identity Theft . My mother taught me if it sounds to good to be true, chances are they are trying to scam you. Said they were calling from Publisher's Clearinghouse and I won $250k. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. But please keep in mind these valuable tips and warning signs to help you know the difference between a legitimate sweepstakes offer and a scam. Then he wanted to deliver our check next Friday. Who wouldnt love to be that winner you see on TV holding a great big sweepstakes check? I hope today finds you well! then call and verify that you really won. If you win a sweepstakes prize from Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes or any other similar legitimate company, you will never need to pay. They need me to go to website and enter my activation code in the letter by deadline for the October 31st prize events. help with bills We found a number of tweets from people who said they received a phone call from scammers who claimed to be with Publishers Clearing House. The catch is that these Publishers Clearing House scams use counterfeit or stolen checks, but when you wire the fees to them (usually via Western Union or Money Gram), those come out of your account that you deposited the funds to. They also ask people to contact them if they feel that they have been a potential victim of Publishers Clearing House scams. In one case, 63-year-old Kenneth Jordan received a phone call claiming to be from PCH telling him hed won $3.5 million [*]. They were going to come to my house (dont know if they even knew the address, they never confirmed it) but would present me with a certified check of which they would even take me to my bank so I could deposit it & then pay the 1% of taxes they say that I had to pay. They took everything. The thing is I want the money to help others also. Looking for alternatives for your holiday shopping? Since PCH awards a steady range of prizes throughout the year, at our option we may notify winners of $10,000 or less via an overnight express carrier such as UPS, FedEx or USPS Express Mail and occasionally via email. The scammers are trying to push you into a heightened emotional state, to knock you off balance just long enough to steal your money and personal information. 5. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Have you seen those commercials with average people being surprised with by the Prize Patrol with crazy huge sweepstakes winnings? i told them to stop by with the $100,000.00 and they can have tthe last 4 numb.s. Youve probably heard: this holiday season, it might be harder to find the gifts youre looking for. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); An example of the Publishers Clearing House scam was reported by a victim as follows: I got a letter from the Publishers Clearing House saying that I am eligible for a prize. Heres an example of how a typical PCH scam plays out: In some versions of this increasingly popular scam, victims are asked to send their Social Security number (SSN), bank account details, or other personal data giving scammers everything needed to steal their victims identities., The bottom line is that Publishers Clearing House never requires winners to pay [*].. Where can I view a recent PCH Winners list? I got a call from someone today claiming to be from Publishers Clearinghouse telling me I won 5.5 million dollars, $10,000.00 a week and a brand new Mercedes with the AMG package. Are you just about to make a purchase online? Fraudsters continue targeting Americans with new versions of PCH scams because they work. They say, "Congratulations, you've won a million dollars, a Mercedes-Benz, and seven thousand dollars a week for life!" or some other amazing sounding prizes. They never award prizes over the phone, on social media, in email, or through the mail. PCH even has a scam hotline that you can call. Prizes are awarded within eight weeks of final winner selection. As a fan and follower of PCH, I bet you know all about the different ways to get in to WIN. Ive gotten notified a hundred times that Ive Won Millions; even the PC H Lifetime Payments; but alas, they dont know where I am, or my last message to the real PC H Headquarters!.! Always remember that PCH will never notify a winner via a Facebook message. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Most Reported. No, Publishers Clearing House is not a scam. They know my address and my dogs name. But if you get a call from someone saying, Youve won, dont believe the hype. So we started asking him questions, like where they were located, their address and was told he would transfer us to a Senior Attorney to answer all our questions. Scammers take money from you in exchange for a reward that they promise, but it will never be sent. So, many of us might be looking for alternatives, like buying gifts locally or maybe from online marketplaces or sites you find through your social media accounts, online ads, or by searching Youve opened all your gifts, and now its time to open those post-holiday credit card statements. 0000020944 00000 n Publishers Clearing House / PCH.com - received a package I never ordered . The Publishers Clearing House website states, All PCH prices of $500 or greater are awarded by either certified or express letter or in person by our famous Prize Patrol at our option.. homeless To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. 0000020830 00000 n 0000029446 00000 n However, I never went into detail like he did. If I change my address will I still be notified if I win? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes Scam is back. If you complete a purchase using one of our links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. 0000045595 00000 n 7 0 obj <> endobj xref They create fake accounts for recognizable Prize Patrol members like Dave Sayer, Danielle Lam, or Todd Sloane. Related: How To Identify a Fake Check (and What To Do) , One common version of the PCH scam involves fraudsters asking victims to contact a designated claims agent. This trick is designed to give you the impression that youre dealing with a third-party professional who is managing your prize award.. Nonetheless, there are still scams relating to various PCH sweepstakes - scammers just couldn't let go of a chance to benefit. A more modern spin is Publishers Clearing House scams involving fake Facebook pages or social media accounts! Start small, then add on. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. Eventually, the scammers ask for up-front payments, a portion of the winnings, or financial data. We wont post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. This will lead you directly to the hands of the scammers. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. WE HAVE BEEN SCAMMED BY A PERSON NAMED JOEL JOHNSON WHO SAID HE WORKED FOR PUBLISHER CLEARING HOUSE AND WE HAD WON $7,500,000.00 AND $5,500.00 A WEEK FOR LIFE AND A 2020 MERCEDES BENZ. jobs I'm tired of the scammers convincing me that I've been approved for a loan and that Im just verifying my address and needing my bank account and routing numbers to make a direct deposit for the amount of the loan, etc.. than they automatically send you to another "LENDING"company, and that one takes all the same info and sends u to another "LENDER ".. and you never to get directed to a real "LOAN" company and for every Lender you fill out all your personal information, your also giving permission for telemarketers to continually call and text your phone and advertisers sending u mail.theres supposed to be a law against false advertising Publishers ClearingHouse has long been tapped as scammers from years back. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. Be aware of these scams, especially if they ask you for personal information or ask for financial info where they can get access to your bank or credit card accounts! But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The victim is abused, and it may cause disputes between family members as well. Call type: Website: Recent suspicious numbers. Some one name Paul is using it.I cant go to the sweepstakes because of this. For General Questions (Billing, Order Concerns and Sweepstakes Inquiries) call: 1-800-459-4724 For Sweepstakes Scams misusing the Publishers Clearing House name call: 1-800-392-4190 For Website/Technical issues call: 1-800-476-4724 To contact us by mail: Write to us at the following address: Publishers Clearing House 300 Jericho Quadrangle #300 Your individual results may vary. Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes are free to enter, require no purchases, and require no payments or fees to receive prizes. The FTC and its law enforcement partners announced actions against several income scams that conned people out of hundreds of millions of dollars by falsely telling them they could make a lot of money. However, this was nothing more than an old scam. Check out Publishers Clearing Houses fraud protection page. financial assistance Here are the best ways to spot a scam this year. Report PCH imposters or check to see if you have actually won at 800-392-4190. Publishers Clearing House Phone Call Scam Targets Victims An old Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes phone scam usually asks for taxes and various fees to be paid up front in order to. I have a recording of the voicemail. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTCscomputer user recordssystem. Contact the company directly and make sure youre not getting scammed., For added security, consider signing up for Auras all-in-one digital security solution to keep your identity and money safe from fraudsters., 10 Common Types of Financial Fraud & Schemes (With Examples). Facebook is an excellent place for sweepstakes fans, but there are plenty of scams that can take place here. Also, it had a small catalog with merchandise for me to buy, assuring me it is all guaranteed with a money-back commitment. How can you tell the difference between the legit Publishers Clearing House and the fraudulent one? If you think youve won a prize from Publishers Clearing House (PCH), you need to be especially careful with how you proceed. Scammers can spoof the caller ID so that it appears as if youre receiving a genuine call from Publishers Clearing House. How can I enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes? 0000019874 00000 n If you receive a call from someone claiming . I didnt respond as I felt it was a scam when I said I didnt have that amount of money and he assured me I did. Lenders use many different credit scoring systems, and the score you receive with Aura is not the same score used by lenders to evaluate your credit. There is no processing fee, tax or special handling charge required to win and our prizes are delivered free of charge to the winners. If youve received a phone call claiming that youve won any prize with the Publishers Clearing House; you know its fake. 0000001669 00000 n With the Publishers Clearing House grand prize, they don't call. The authentic Publishers Clearing House Company will never state any such information to anyone. You will be required to pay a fee before you even receive your prize money or gift. I just had the same thing happen a hour ago. free food I got excited and believed them. They send a check over to you and ask you to send a small amount back to them due to an error. I was contacted by phone that I was a PCH winner of 2.5 million, plus 45k in cash and a Mercedes. THATS WHEN WE FOUND OUT WE ARE SCAMMED. The funny thing is just last week my co-worker who sits behind me in the lab at work got several phone calls from "Publisher's Clearing House" telling him he won $7,000 a week for life and that they would be arriving at his house today! I did call PCH directly & put in a scam alert to them as they say they will never call you if you win nor email, text or send a letter as they want it to be a surprise to the winner nor will they ask for any money. They have now awarded over $527 million in prizes! WE WERE NOT TO TELL ANYONE UNTIL WE HAD PAID THE MONEY TO INSURE BEFORE WE WOULD GET IT. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. seniors He made an appointment to come to my home to award PCH Check to me on January 18, 2021 at 1:00 PM. The second call came from Mr. Miller that I won $2.5 million dollars. TO claim the prize I was told to go to a Walgreens and purchase a $500.00 gift card, a one vanilla gift card. Got a letter the other day that included a check for $8,693.63 from Publichers Clearing House Free Lotto Promotion, desk of the Vice President (International Promotions/Prize Award Dept. If you have to pay, its a scam. Check out these tips. Getting calls that I won PCH SWEEPS. 0000045558 00000 n When I told the caller I could not go to Walgreens right then he asked why not and told me I needed to go and purchase the card now. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. 0000014090 00000 n housing 0000010276 00000 n Thats a sure sign of a scam. A person on the phone, social media, email, or in a letter that's sent in the mail says you've won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. Many Publishers Clearing House scams start with a legitimate sounding phone call, email, or even a check in the mail! . its been a week now, so lets plat on. [[5z#|5.s3 +J.2je)z=QE79rT,jVXR{P. These Publishers Clearing House scams operate by claiming there are legal fees, processing fees, handling fees, card loading fees, border fees, taxes, etc. In reply to A year ago last March I made by AuzzieLady. Thats what con artists are counting on when they claim to be Publishers Clearing House. A year ago last March I made a complaint with the FTC about NPD Group (VIP Voice Surveys). 0000008818 00000 n Ive received this stuff for years and was stupid back In those days I would get so excited that I won something but it was actually nothing I would cry a lot cause I could really use the money I supposed have won thank you for listening. If you receive a win notice claiming to be from a company like Publishers Clearing House or Microsoft, but the email arrived from a free account, you can be sure that you're dealing with a sweepstakes scam. Your browser either does not have JavaScript enabled or does not appear to support enough features of JavaScript to be used well on this site. Scammers will use these details to steal your identity and all the money that you have in your bank account. First, choose any icon The reality here was that the company only notifies winners of their prizes by visiting them in person with their PCH Prize Patrol. Then I found something else I wanted to order and soon I got another letter saying I was the very BEST Then I got a letter saying I was one of their best customers and I had graduated to the PRESIDENTIAL Status!!! 1/200. All Publishers Clearing House prizes are awarded in person, as this user knew when receiving a scam call: On top of the fact that all prizes are awarded in person, Publishers Clearing House does not ask that any taxes or other kinds of fees be paid up front for wiring the money or for any other reason. . Letter was signed by Vice President, Susan Williamson. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. 0000029796 00000 n The check is drawn off of an account from Jonathan & Associates CHB Services, Inc. in Compton, CA. children Save up to 50% on annual plans. All they had to do was open a new bank account and send a photocopy of the account holders ID. Please refer to the actual policies for terms conditions and exclusions of coverage. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. The Publishers Clearing House only uses their Prize Patrol to notify major award winners. Low Income Relief is an informational website that provides tips, advice, and information to help you make ends meet. What if I'm not home when the PCH Prize Patrol comes? If you signed up for Aura through a free trial, then your membership purchase date will be the date you signed up for your free trial, and you will have 60 days from the date you signed up for your free trial to cancel and request a refund. Major prize winners are never contacted in advance. rent One of those scams was 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle, which touted a proven business model and told Scammers are calling people and using the names of two companies everyone knows, Apple and Amazon, to rip people off. After 27 years in law enforcement and state Veterans Affairs agencies, I found myself working from home and looking for dollar-stretching resources. disability In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. 1. Posted on Published: February 23, 2022- Last updated: September 29, 2022. I tried contacting them several times, but whenJanet Hall They may even impersonate PCH executives like Deborah Holland., Related: The Worst Social Media Scams of 2023 (and How To Avoid Them) , Everyone would love to pick up the phone and hear that theyve won millions of dollars. You can add your number to the national do-not-call registry and report if you receive unsolicited calls from numbers that are part of Publishers Clearing House scams. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. check to $1,800 a week for the first year. These scammers should be caught and punished but no one is doing anything! We review all comments before they are posted, and we wont post comments that dont comply with our commenting policy. Finally, out of disgust I answered and was told that I had won $2.5 million and a Mercedes Benz. veterans. Scammers will give you a phone number that comes back to them for "verification." . Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. _6zJe_9tSYVfVYbArnfJ#5QM'l)_'$Qr7=WVY-K,epbNHI9`p'T,)qPG;rps=u{p >$A+(h ti#e6.#z.gbN0%b-MH;h1ki,%4!h%}-(B%*!o]U Scammers can be reported to the company on a page where it says the company will send a report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. They NEVER call you. If you were contacted by someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House, or claiming to be a PCH employee and were asked to send or wire money, send a pre-paid gift card or a Green Dot MoneyPak card, or cash a check and send a portion back to them as payment for any reason to claim a Sweepstakes prize - STOP - You have not heard from the real Publishers Clearing House. So they keep doing it. utilities military They also gave me claim code. In one case, a couple in Tennessee reported being offered $1.5 million and a brand-new Mercedes convertible [*]. You know it is not a legitimate Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes if you are contacted by phone, instructed to send money to claim your prize, or asked for confidential information about your identification, banking or credit card. The prizes offered by the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes range from $1 Amazon gift cards to $10 million. I did the same thing as above. Government programs can be notoriously difficult to navigate and I'm happy to lend my experiences to make this easier for others! Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTCscomputer user recordssystem. The legitimate Publishers Clearing House will never ask you to pay anything. Prizes are awarded within eight weeks of final winner selection. Customer Service is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 11 PM & Saturday 8:30 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time Was this answer helpful? I've been in PCH since 1999. It is so upsetting because my Dad entered all the time til he died and I have entered for over 25 years and nothing but false hope. then wanted pictures on front and back. This scam starts with a phone call informing you that youve won a cash prize, a new car, or a vacation. Blocked him yet he used another number to call. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. Maria S. October 15, 2020 Publishers Clearing House Scams. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. I get a call from 3234730677. too ! To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Still think its real? I received a call telling me that I won 2.5 million and a Chevy Tahoo , all I had to do was go to the Dollar General and get a Vanilla Gift Card for $150.00 and give it to them tomorrow, between 9-10 am. medical assistance The IRS has a $600 threshold for reporting of winnings. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. He sent a letter with a package claim # and prize listing # and said I needed to give them $8,640.00. Even if youre not asked to pay upfront, there are other red flags to look out for when dealing with a fake PCH award.. If you are asked to enter any personal information, you can be sure that it is a scam. They asked me to put stickers everywhere on entry forms and return them. If you receive a Publishers Clearing House phone call, email, or letter in your mailbox saying that you have won a prize, you can be sure that it is a scam. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. Scam I've gotten the call twice and reported it to FBI. And letters, Ive Won (fill in the number) $$$$. Customer Service is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 11 PM & Saturday 8:30 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time. No matter whether a scammer has contacted you by phone, by postal mail, by email or by social media (such as Facebook), we strongly encourage you to fill out the online PCH scam form. How do I change my name/address information at Publishers Clearing House? legal But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. Instead, it is always, Dear Winner.. Hopefully you have alerted PCH or your local police & can get your money back some how. Call 1-877-3SWEEPS (1 . We wont post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity. Always look for the blue verification badge on any PCH official page. I sent the form back again. If anyone calls asking you to pay for a prize, hang up and, And, if you wired money to a prize scammer via Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you might be. Heres what you need to know about these calls. 0000002809 00000 n Your bank will then typically discover the check is not valid and you may be charged penalties and possibly even face legal issues for a felony deposit of a fraudulent check. If you were contacted by someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House, or claiming to be a PCH employee and were asked to send or wire money, send a pre-paid gift card or a Green Dot MoneyPak card, or cash a check and send a portion back to them as payment for any reason to claim a Sweepstakes prize - STOP - You have not heard from the There are never any strings attached to winning a Publishers Clearing House prize. The score you receive with Aura is provided for educational purposes to help you understand your credit. 5 Best Identity Theft Protection for Seniors: 2023 Guide. David Patterson claims to be a rep from publishers clearing house Phone 817-701-4054 claim I won 1.9 million and $5000.00 a week for life since its a Holiday that was his reason for calling. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. I did not give any bank account or credit card info to him. Help please he keeps calling. The .gov means its official. The fact is, Publishers Clearing House never notifies winners in advance. What kind of prizes are offered by the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes? Should I start spending the $500,000? !..Nice try doucheyou still need to practice moreLOL! No one can prevent all identity theft or monitor all transactions effectively. I first got a call from Peter Warnock from PCH he gave me two different phone numbers 917-268-4042 & 888-252-9793 and said I had won $7 + million dollars etc.. It's easier than ever to manage your PCH account! These assured me that I dont have to buy anything to win and include bonus stockers for side prizes. nor send them money. Just got a call from New York wanted me to send Five hundred dollar gift card to them . The reason so many Publishers Clearing House scams can be successful is because the Publishers Clearing House has run one of the most well-known sweepstakes programs ever. The message says theres something wrong with Its Cyber Security Awareness month, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds. I received already so many scamming calls that I suspect another scam. The first one, the texh support, is, Let's look at what ChatGPT is, the most notorious ChatGPT scams, the pros and cons, Here is a powerful guide on how to efficiently block every harmful website on the, How To Be Notified When Your Personal Info Is Leaked Online Here is how to, Here are the most effective ways to protect yourself from phishing. If you were contacted by someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House, or claiming to be a PCH employee and were asked to send or wire money, send a pre-paid gift card or a Green Dot MoneyPak card, or cash a check and send a portion back to them as payment for any reason to claim a Sweepstakes prize - STOP - You have not heard from the real Publishers Clearing House. If you were a little too jolly with your holiday spending, here are some tips to help you pay down your credit card debt. All scammers! I know the real team pride themselves to surprise you at your door!.! We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. I am assuming that these contacts have been scammers and I havent given them any money. And best of all paying online is absolutely free! Recently Reported Phone Calls in 876 Area Code. Have you ever wondered if Publishers Clearing House scams are out there? This causes it to be flagged and take longer to go through the system giving them more time to get away with their scam. 0000020214 00000 n This is nothing but a scam that has fooled many innocent people. They said that that is a certified prize that is approved by Trade Commission and that prize patrol has been suspended due to COVID-19.

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