- Publishers Clearing House Lottery Scams
What You Need to Know
Scammers are increasingly targeting victims by posing as Publishers Clearing House (PCH) and falsely claiming they have won a lottery prize. These scams often come via phone calls, emails, text messages, or even regular mail and demand payment of taxes or administrative fees before the victim can claim their supposed winnings.
Many victims, believing they have actually won, send large sums of money to the scammers. For example, one man in Las Vegas lost $180,000 after being told he had won a multi-million-dollar prize but needed to pay taxes upfront. No legitimate lottery, including PCH, requires winners to pay taxes or fees directly to claim a prize.
Scammers often “spoof” caller ID to make it appear as if the call is from PCH, making it harder to identify fraud. Additionally, they frequently request payments through gift cards, which are untraceable and cannot be refunded—another major red flag.
What You Should Do
To avoid falling victim to Publishers Clearing House scams, follow these essential precautions:
- Know How PCH Contacts Winners – PCH never notifies major prize winners by phone, email, or text message—only through in-person visits or regular mail. If you receive a notification through any other method, it is a scam.
- Be Skeptical of Payment Requests – No legitimate lottery or sweepstakes requires winners to pay upfront fees or send money via gift cards to claim a prize. If you are asked to do so, do not proceed.
- Don’t Trust Caller ID – Scammers use spoofing technology to make it seem like they are calling from PCH or another official source. Never trust a phone call claiming you’ve won.
- Remember: You Can’t Win a Lottery You Didn’t Enter – If you never entered a sweepstake or lottery, you did not win. Any claim otherwise is a scam.
- Verify Directly with PCH – If you are unsure about a PCH notification, contact them directly at their official website or phone number before taking any action.
Think you are being scammed? Call our scam hotline or email us for help:
(801)-724-6211
scamwatch@invisus.com
