Facebook is an excellent place for sweepstakes fans, but there are plenty of scams that can take place here. The scam starts with a call or letter saying you've won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission. We do not ask for bank account information. An official website of the United States government. Amazing those characters haven't been put out of business yet. So, I kept ordering and doing everything they asked me to as I thought it would make sure Learn about getting and using credit, borrowing money, and managing debt. Still think its real? Who won the February 28, 2023 Superprize of $5,000 A Week Forever? Today, I get a call from the same number saying she's investigating a prize scam. You can also do a Google search of similar cases and look for notifications that other people have reported to consumer organizations. Always look for the blue verification badge on any PCH official page. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. Some one name Paul is using it.I cant go to the sweepstakes because of this. Stay up to date with the latest news and learn how to keep you and your family safe online. So he asked my husband and I to get on speaker phone to hear everything and then he hung up. Do This ASAP , Scammers can easily exploit social media platforms like Facebook to run PCH scams.. No. 0000000016 00000 n Full access to plan features depends on identity verification and credit eligibility. Publishers Clearing House Scam Targets Victims by Phone - The Penny Hoarder Charles S. from Cleveland, OH won $10,000.00! state parks I have a recording of the voicemail. Start small, then add on. We have links to help you avoid becoming a victim of a scam! They never include having to pay money or give out personal information to receive a prize. Major prize award and SuperPrize winners are not notified via email. Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes are free to enter, require no purchases, and require no payments or fees to receive prizes. Heres how it works Prime video scam- iPhone for 779.00 has been charged to your account! i sent them the pictures with the last 4 blocked, i had a fake card so i just played the game. This will lead you directly to the hands of the scammers. They use trust between family members to scam people out of their money. Then I found something else I wanted to order and soon I got another letter saying I was the very BEST CLICK, I hung up. How to Detect & Avoid Sweepstakes Scam Phone Calls - LiveAbout Ive got a phone call today from claiming as PCH representative and I was picked to win .10.5 Million Dollars and I was to contact PCH at one of the following phone numbers. There, you can simply ask if you are a winner and a PCH representative will verify your win for you. LOL! Prizes are awarded within eight weeks of final winner selection. 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 [*].. 3 and 4 times a day they call her. Heres how you can tell if youre being targeted by a sweepstakes scam: Related: What Happens If You Unknowingly Deposit a Fake Check? That's why we have a super-easy way to report scams - our online PCH Scam Incident Report. veterans. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. Thats what con artists are counting on when they claim to be Publishers Clearing House. They will never use phone calls or send a major prize check in the mail. The scammers told the potential victims that all they needed to do to was pay taxes and perhaps other fees in order to wire the huge cash prizes to their bank accounts: At least one Twitter user tweeted about being duped by the Publishers Clearing House phone scam, calling it a "nightmare": Thankfully, a number of people came to the rescue and told the user to stop communicating with the scammers. Report PCH imposters or check to see if you have actually won at 800-392-4190. Good luck, PC H customers, and players!.! Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions. PCH Overview - PCH Information Center Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scams. For PCHlotto, please click here. And PCH is a company that is often misused by scammers, be sure you also know how to recognize a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scam. Winners | PCH.com He also asked me if I am at home, office or driving right now. there was also another Man that I gave $185.00..I think his last name was Welder .. There are never any strings attached to winning a Publishers Clearing House prize. When in their promo they claim no purchase nessacary. Scammers will use these details to steal your identity and all the money that you have in your bank account. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. legal cheap eats 4 ways Publishers Clearing House scams contact victims! SNAP 0000007123 00000 n My mother taught me if it sounds to good to be true, chances are they are trying to scam you. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. 0000003669 00000 n Immediately, alarm bells went on in my head. PCH's Guide to Avoid and Protect Yourself Against Scammers Should I worry? 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. This causes it to be flagged and take longer to go through the system giving them more time to get away with their scam. 0000021139 00000 n As our fans well know, Publishers Clearing House is a famous brand notorious for handing out massive sums of money. Who won the June 30, 2022 Early Look Superprize for 1 million dollars for giveaway #19500 I live in Canada. 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. Hi friends and fans! The 1st Phone number was stated to be for Mr. Dave Sayer and the second number was for Mr. Todd Sloane, I know that the 702 number is a Nevada phone number, but the 888 number could be any where. I hope today finds you well! My brother has a PCH account-02775461-433. Also, it had a small catalog with merchandise for me to buy, assuring me it is all guaranteed with a money-back commitment. transportation But when the check you deposit bounces even after it seemed to clear you may be on the hook for the money you sent. We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. There is one thing consistent though! They copy the real organizations exact style and format to make it seem like the PCH letter, email, or call is authentic. 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.. Another recent version of PCH scams is when a criminal gets access to your social media account and contacts your extended family members, telling them that they have won all the money. So they keep doing it. 0000005393 00000 n Then, youll receive periodic messages and emails. Some Publishers Clearing House scams are using telephone calls to inform of winnings and claiming they need your credit card number or bank account information in order to send your prize. library Watch out, they're back at it. You get a call, email, or letter saying you won a sweepstakes, lottery, or prize like an iPad, a new car, or something else. The legitimate Publishers Clearing House will never ask you to pay anything. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. 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. According to the official website for Publishers Clearing House, the company does not notify any winners of their prizes over the phone. Here are a few tips that you can keep in mind when trying to spot the difference between the fake and the real PCH sweepstakes. 5 Ways To Know If Its A Publishers Clearing House Scam! PCH Blog, 5 Apr. 0000034280 00000 n Low Income Relief is an informational website that provides tips, advice, and information to help you make ends meet. How are PCH winners notified? Weve covered a few ways that scammers might try to get money from you well also cover ways you can confirm if a winning notification is legitimate or not! EBT Many Publishers Clearing House scams start with a legitimate sounding phone call, email, or even a check in the mail! There was just one catch: Before the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol would show up with an oversized check and a bottle of champagne, he needed to send $31,000 in prepaid gift cards to cover fees and taxes. Research before responding. Scammers will give you a phone number that comes back to them for "verification." . [[5z#|5.s3 +J.2je)z=QE79rT,jVXR{P. 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. All of a sudden he admitted the prize was not real and asked to be my FRIEND. Publishers Clearing House scams wont work if you know which ones are fake! 0000046077 00000 n cheap According to a Google search, this companys link takes me here: https://panjiva.com/Jonathan-Associates-Chb-Services/37567616 which is nothing related to an sort of lottery. Then report it to the FTC: ftc.gov/complaint. When I called one of the numbers he gave me the machine said it was a travel agency and that his brother left the message. The Publishers Clearing House only uses their Prize Patrol to notify major award winners. This means that potential victims of Publishers Clearing House scams often recognize the name and assume the winning claims are legitimate! The authentic Publishers Clearing House Company will never state any such information to anyone. To contact us by mail: Write to us at the following address: To call us, please call us at 1-800-566-4724. 0000001669 00000 n They may be compensated as a marketing affiliate of Aura, but their ratings are all their own. No one can prevent all identity theft or monitor all transactions effectively. It may even be a fake personal page of one of the real employees of Publishers Clearing House. Domain age, Alexa rank, HTTPS valid, Blacklisting, SSL certificates, Source code, Location, IP address, WOT Trustworthiness, Spam reports, Advanced technology, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, Contact options. People please be very careful! The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site. Verify your win. A more modern spin is Publishers Clearing House scams involving fake Facebook pages or social media accounts! The caller ID number was 202.856.7945 although the caller likely spoofed that number. Well story short, I just trick him saying that I am out right now but can be home laterbut when I asked him if he is trying to scam me , he raised his voice and hang me up!! 0000027767 00000 n Funny, but he had the exact accent as a gentleman who did a video on these scams. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. If you switched to a new annual plan within 60 days of your initial Aura annual subscription, you may still qualify for the Money Back Guarantee (based upon your initial annual plan purchase date). Plus, catch up on the Prize Patrol's latest and greatest winning moments! We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. Copyright 2023 Scam Detector Media Inc.. All Rights Reserved. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy. 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. The second call came from Mr. Miller that I won $2.5 million dollars. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Said they were calling from Publisher's Clearinghouse and I won $250k. Ive got a phone call today from claiming as PCH but very lousy voice saying I won $6.5M and will be deliver to my house today. Director, Member Services got back to me "I was told my prize had been given to alternative winner because I did not contact them in time. You should be on guard to begin with if you have not entered a sweepstakes. It is calculated using the information contained in your Equifax credit file. the overall total was $285.00. please research. 1. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Check out Publishers Clearing Houses fraud protection page. For PCHgames, please click here. cash assistance After sending you a fake check in the mail, scammers then ask you to pay for lawyers fees or insurance. When the bank discovers that the check is fake, it will withdraw the amount from your account. If you're a major prize winner, the PCH Prize Patrol will show up at your door with . (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. rent If you receive a call from someone claiming . Fraudsters use the promise of life-changing winnings to persuade you to send them money or provide sensitive information that they can use for identity theft and fraud.. WE PAID A TOTAL OF $ 47,400.00 AND HE WAS ASKING FOR $90,000.00 WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE. But if you get a call from someone saying, Youve won, dont believe the hype. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. Now pay us, is always scammer. Well, now there's a prize scam. 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. Heres how to recognize signs of financial fraud and protect your money from scammers. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. Youre told that, to claim your prize, you need to deposit the check and send some of the money back for made-up expenses. Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery Scams. Received a call this AMsaid I won Publishers Clearing House $15,000,000!!! Should I start spending the $500,000? If you receive a Publishers Clearing House phone call, email, or letter in your mailbox saying that you have won a prize, you can be sure that it is a scam. Often Publishers Clearing House scams use fraudulent checks with mismatched banking and routing information. 0000027071 00000 n Consumer Alert. Here's how to know if a travel website selling, If you are an avid traveler, beware of the new TSA PreCheck Scam. I received already so many scamming calls that I suspect another scam. Publishers Clearing House Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Entering sweepstakes and giveaways is fun, exciting and enjoyable. 0000030173 00000 n If anyone calls asking you to pay for a prize, hang up and, And, if you wired money to a prize scammer via Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you might be. Call type: Website: Recent suspicious numbers. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. A Publishers Clearing House phone scam went around again in May 2022. I am 99.99999% sure this is a scam. Always remember that PCH will never notify a winner via a Facebook message. 04. of 13. If any of these situations applies to you, please click here to fill out a Scam Incident ReportOr Chat with us nowbyclicking here. The FTC and its law enforcement partners announced actions against several income scams that conned people out of hundreds of millions of dollars by falsely telling them they could make a lot of money. HWn7W>L,nc,+#9A`@-A{Ev,vn&E N_o_f:}tI`FN\{7({w.9xjK (o'/wuE9-|A\y'|Fgq@k/v;X X^{;y=2Q>'g#|S5Q<4w:Pk&7yPfBVh4v':|@ LgX1lAt^6~0+z:Lb8+4|$aq@bPy>#'?00ug#x.Gi.2tG__qNyfFTDO(&Q^!x]"Hq_xh?Nw-Mi 6+D9_O8}NZ+Wr Tj(-*iIG3 #MA65!67tHYk]K:n up{S;B%R From phone 940-343-5506. 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." But when the check you deposit bounces even after it seemed to clear you may be on the hook for the money you sent. Read our article on Prize Scams. In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. 7 48 Scammers dont just scam one person. The thing is I want the money to help others also. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect. Last time they left automated message informing me that I won the sweepstake price from Publisher Clearing House and I should phone back at the number 877-725-3991 to claim my prize. How do I return my Publishers Clearing House merchandise order. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your area. The PCH sweepstakes email, letter, or text message you receive will tell you to respond quickly, or else you will miss out on your winnings. Youve probably heard: this holiday season, it might be harder to find the gifts youre looking for. Check out these tips. How to Contact PCH by Phone, Email, Social Media & More - LiveAbout Even sent a fancy PCH Winner certificate which I saved for you. In sum, we recommend hanging up the phone if the person on the other end claims to be associated with Publishers Clearing House. The name of the Kingston, Jamaica call was Todd Solane and the call from the manager is from NY name is Michael Anderson. They never award prizes over the phone, on social media, in email, or through the mail. Meanwhile, educate yourself with some other lottery fraud-related articles below, so that you know how to stay safe online. food stamps The scam starts with a call or letter saying youve won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. 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. I received a text message from someone claiming to be Andrew Goldberg the message went like this exactly: "Congratulation I'm Andrew Goldberg President and CEO Publisher's Clearing House sweepstake, well we just want to inform you have been fortuitously picked among our lucky winners those getting $270,000.00 PCH lottery of the year 2022. Never send money to collect a prize, sweepstakes check, or lottery winnings. 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. Watch out. How are PCHRewards Token Exchange Winners notified? 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. Then another package with a form to re-certify my validation, plus another catalog!