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Normally, you cannot get in contact with them without at least a half an hour of phone tree and wait time. Second, departments of taxation don't make courtesy calls. The fact is that Publishers Clearing House will never contact major prize winners to let you know that you have won money. When PCH fans win big, we show up at their house unannounced, cameras rolling, so that we can capture their big moment. PCH will not contact you via social media, phone call, text message, or similar means of outreach. I have received numerous calls/messages from scammers acting as PCH to tell me I won the Grand Prize.
What is a 'Golden Harvest' prize?
It is a fake check and did not come from the real PCH. Thank you, we want you to know that PCH partners with the Federal Trade Commission and the information we gather from you today will be shared with them which is then shared with law enforcement authorities around the country. Reporting a sweepstakes imposter scam to Publishers Clearing House is easy.
Were You the Victim of a PCH Sweepstakes Scam?
If you’re asked to pay anything to claim your winnings, you’re dealing with a PCH scam. But the whole thing is a setup to get you to either send them money (or gift cards) or disclose enough sensitive information to enable them to steal your identity and empty your bank account. The sad truth is that big winners can easily lose good money when it comes to sweepstakes scams, especially if they don't pause a bit and pay attention to any of the red flags along the way.
For Consumers
Logos can be copied, names of legitimate PCH employees can be found on Google, signatures can be forged... You need to be familiar with the real signs of a PCH prize win. Seniors are at a higher risk of identity theft and fraud. Compare the best identity theft protection services for seniors and decide which one is right for you. Award-winning identity theft protection with AI-powered digital security tools, 24/7 White Glove support, and more.
Recent Consumer Alerts
The user later appeared to confirm getting out of the situation ok. If you receive any communication claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, do your due diligence. Contact the company directly and make sure you’re not getting scammed. Even if you’re not asked to pay upfront, there are other red flags to look out for when dealing with a fake PCH award. Aura’s app keeps you safe from scams, fraud, and identity theft.
If you win a major prize in our sweepstakes, the PCH Prize Patrol will contact you in person. For smaller prizes (usually less than $10,000.00), winners are notified by overnight delivery services (FedEx, UPS), certified mail, or email in the case on online giveaways. That's why it's important to be able to tell the difference between a legitimate prize win and a sweepstakes scam. In reality, the “agent” is a scam artist who will try to convince you to give up personal data in exchange for your winnings.
She would get no information from me, but I would pass her concern on to our payroll department to see if they were filing the payroll for our remote employees correctly. Apparently, some state government agencies really do call you if they want their tax revenue. In 2018, Publishers Clearing House was hit with yet another lawsuit for email subject lines that ensnared people, especially the elderly, into thinking they were sweepstakes winners.
Secaucus couple charged in multimillion-dollar ‘Publishers Clearing House’ scam - NJ.com
Secaucus couple charged in multimillion-dollar ‘Publishers Clearing House’ scam.
Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
They say it over and over buying will not increase chances of winning. I get this one (PCH) at least once a week and it is always the same story "call Mr xxxxx " to claim your winnings and pay the $500 Dollar processing fee. A spoofed website looks like the official PCH entry form.
Older Adults and Fraud: What You Need To Know

If you are not experienced, a scam can seem legitimate. “Scammers are pretending to be Publishers Clearing House and tricking people into sending them money,” the FTC says on its website. If you believe your Publishers Clearing House mailing has run afoul of any of these two laws, you can file a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. And, if you wired money to a prize scammer via Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you might be eligible for a refund. PCH agreed to the proposed court order that requires the company to turn over $18.5 million to the FTC.
For added security, consider signing up for Aura’s all-in-one digital security solution to keep your identity and money safe from fraudsters. With the Publishers Clearing House grand prize, they don't call. In fact, the Better Business Bureau says it’s happening right here in 21Country. You might imagine that you're the only person who is dealing a problem — or the only person who just won $2.5 million through “Mega Millions Online," another popular ongoing scam. She doesn't recall exactly how much he claimed she won — noting that she doesn't like to clutter her head with pointless information.
Golden Harvest is not a real giveaway or terminology that Publishers Clearing House has ever used in its promotions. We hope this information was helpful and successfully protects you from any potential PCH impersonator scams (and other types of internet scams) that you may encounter. The info will then be shared with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US Postal Service, and police and law enforcement officials to help put an end to the scam. With this understanding of different PCH impersonator scams, how to spot them, and how to avoid getting caught in one, the only thing left is to learn how to report a Publishers Clearing House impersonator scam. Publishers Clearing House wants to warn you about scam artists pretending to be the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol or other PCH employees on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.