Beware of "Publishers Clearing House(PCH) Grant Donation" Scam

Updated: February 28, 2018 2018-02-28T02:14:03 - Posted: February 28, 2018 2018-02-28T02:10:02 - Views: 2,437 - Comments: 29 +

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The "PCH Grant Donation" email below is a scam. Therefore, recipients of the same email which claim they have won such a donation are asked to delete it because it is being sent by lottery scammers. The aim of the scammers is to deceive their potential victims into thinking they are the real Publishers Clearing House, but they are NOT! The real Publishers Clearing House would NEVER ask their winners for money or personal information for any reason to claim a grant, donation, sweepstakes prize award.

Please continue reading below.

The "Publishers Clearing House(PCH) Grant Donation" Scam

From: "Wright, Tracy" <Tracy_Wright@comcast.com>

Date: February 16, 2018 at 2:05:50 PM CST

Subject: Batch#: 1192920103

Reply-To: "pchgrant018@hotmail.com" <pchgrant018@hotmail.com>

Email Reference#: 028291902.

Batch#: 1192920103.

Your email id have won you Grant Prize from the PCH Grant Donation dated 16th of February 2018.

To redeem prize
Publishers Clearing House(
reply back with your name and address.

Congratulations!

PCH)

Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is a direct marketing company that markets merchandise and magazine subscriptions with sweepstakes, prize-based game, search, and lottery websites.

Publishers Clearing House (PCH) does not ask for bank account or other financial information. There is no processing fee, tax or special handling charge required to win. The Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes prizes are delivered free of charge to the winners.

How to Determine if you are being Scammed

If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House, or claiming to be a PCH employee and 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 him/her as payment for any reason to claim a Sweepstakes prize, it is a scam.

The scammers’ preferred method of sending money is through Western Union, MoneyGram, Green Dot MoneyPak card. This is because those methods of sending money make it virtually impossible for the victims to get back their money.

Please share with us what you know or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. Also, check the comment section below for additional information, if there is any.

Remember to forward suspicious, malicious, or phishing email messages to us at the following email address: info@onlinethreatalerts.com

Also, report scams, untrustworthy, or fraudulent websites to us. Tell us why you consider the websites untrustworthy or fraudulent.

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Comments, Questions and Reviews ✍

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Posted: 2018-07-15T19:58:55 by an anonymous user from or near: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, United States
I have been in contact with a supposed PCH agent, his name is Wilson Thomos for grant money, he told me that I am a winner but to verify my case file I need to send him the codes for 650 dollars in I tune gift cards, is this legitimate or a scam, a friend claims that he did it and got 45,000. dollars
delete
- Posted: 2018-07-15T21:06:42 by info
  It is a scam.
  delete
Posted: 2018-07-07T20:37:44 by an anonymous user from or near: New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
I'm on messenger right now with a new friend, who was friends with other people I know. I know it's a scam and I told him so right off.
delete
Posted: 2018-07-04T18:42:01 by an anonymous user from or near: Udall, Kansas, United States
I have a PCH rep calling me and telling me I won 3.5 mil and I need to wire 52,500.00 to some where in Indiana.

They sent me a brief case with combination that supposedly has a lot of cash and a certificate with my winnings.

I am supposed to get the combination and look at the contents for 5 seconds. I have told them I won't give them anything until someone arrives at my place and hands me everything I have supposedly won. Comments
delete
Posted: 2018-07-01T23:15:41 by info
Here is another scam:

"From: Avinash Bramandlapalli
Sent: Sunday, July 1, 2018 3:02 PM
Subject: Ref#: 436371233

PCH Grant Notice Dated 1st of July, 2018.

You have won a grant donation prize of ($1,000,000.00) with your Email Ref#: 436371233 and Batch#: PCH77383812.

To redeem prize send your name and address to our agent on email address: pch65321@gmail.com

Congratulations!

(Publishers Clearing House)"
delete
Posted: 2018-06-26T19:31:23 by an anonymous user from or near: Portland, Oregon, United States
Received this:

"PUBLISHERS CLEARANCE HOUSE{PCH} AWARDS!!!

Serial Number: 472976879
Your Email address Won: $1,000,000.00USD
Contact: elizabethhanks45@gmail.com for claim with:
NAME/ ADDRESS/ OCCUPATION/ AGE/ SEX/ TEL NUMBER/ SERIAL NUMBER.

Regards, Elizabeth Hanks {Online Co-Ordinator ©2018}"
delete
Posted: 2018-06-12T19:26:58 by an anonymous user from or near: Moody, Alabama, United States
I got the same scam attempt today as Jackie. This came through a friend's FB acct via messenger. Noticed my friend was dropping words we that speak English don't do. Quickly he let me know he won $250k and having house built in Miami. He said I saw your name on the list, you probably won too. They claimed to be from pch pokerstars mega bonus commission association. They tried to get me to send $1500.00 via wire xfer, western union even cash deposit.
Scam big time
delete
Posted: 2018-06-12T19:16:09 by an anonymous user from or near: Moody, Alabama, United States
I got the same scam attempt today from pch pokerstars mega bonus commission. It came through a friend's FB acct via messenger.
I guess they hacked his acct. I thought I was talking to my friend until I noticed words being dropped in sentences. Early in the conversation, he told me he won 250k and he saw my name on the list. (On a list I never entered).

Well, he gave me her contact info and of course I won. $250k. To get the money I had to send $1500.00 via wire xfer money gram or western union for fees taxes. I was told to not tell anyone about this until I received my money else I'd be disqualified. Another thing was said in their msg was they got my information from the federal government. What?!
Scam big time.
delete
Posted: 2018-06-12T09:56:47 by an anonymous user from or near: Cooperstown, New York, United States
I was told by an extremely reliable friend that she had received this grant/prize and that she had seen my name on the list so assumed I had as well. It seemed believable as we had only recently become friends so the coincidence was possible.

She forwarded me HER contact site. I started contact but was of course skeptical. I googled and found this site. However, it still continued to seem real until the dreaded......you must send money to verify who you are. They wanted $1650. The "person" I had been messaging is Barbara A. Weaver on Facebook claiming to work at Federal Government Free Grant. The web address forwarded to me by my apparent winning friend was
https://web.facebook.com/olatokunbo.adeniji.9.
delete
Posted: 2018-05-31T12:30:38 by an anonymous user from or near: Pittsburg, California, United States
The scammers are starting to use Instagram. Been asked to fill out a form. oh, my goodness. Get a job. I work 65 hours a week.scammers would it really kill you to do some manual labor? Pathetic bunch as my grandma would say.
delete
Posted: 2018-05-27T12:13:14 by an anonymous user from or near: Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States
Hello,

A friend of mine win a $250,000 grant from Publisher's Clearing house. She paid an Itunes prepaid card $500. and she did receive her money. Is this a scam or is it real? Will she have to pay that money back, at sometime in the future?

The reason I'm asking is because she messaged me that I was also a winner of $250,000 from Publisher's Clearing House. She gave me the information to contact them.

I messaged them: Agent Dave Sayer:
PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE POKER-START MEGA BONUS COMMISSION AND MILLIONS ASSOCIATION.

My name is still on the list. I'm not supposed to disclose this information or I will be disqualified.

They gave me a reference number, batch number, ticket number and serial number;
I need to pay a case file fee and your delivery fee. These fees are for tax clearance and delivery fees.

They think that I'm still out of the country, so I still have time to claim.
Is this a scam or real?
HELP!!!!!
Thank you, Jackie.
delete
- Posted: 2018-06-12T18:56:45 by an anonymous user from or near: Moody, Alabama, United States
  I received this same scam attempt today. It came through a friend's facebook acct on messenger. I noticed my he was leaving words out of a sentence, giving me instant clue, English was not their first language.
  He also gave me the contact for Theresa May. Tried to get 1500.00. All the same as my friend above.
  delete
- Posted: 2018-05-27T13:34:17 by info
  It is a scam. Once you are asked to pay with an iTunes prepaid card, it is a scam.
  
  And, remember, never send money in order to receive a lottery prize. Legitimate lottery companies will never ask you to send money or other forms of payment to receive a prize.
  delete
  - Posted: 2018-05-31T13:01:23 by an anonymous user from or near: Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States
    I know it is a scam, but how do you explain the fact that the scammer sent her the money. Is the money a high interest loan, counterfeit or money laundering? What do you think?
    I would like to Email the FBI and try to help them catch this person, but they do not have email, I would have to call.
    Thanks!
    delete
    - Posted: 2018-05-31T14:11:35 by info
      Ask yourself these questions:
      
      How do you know who you are talking to?
      How do you know that the person who you are talking to is telling the truth?
      
      And, PCH will never ask winners to send money or personal information in order to receive their prize.
      delete
      - Posted: 2018-05-31T15:18:55 by an anonymous user from or near: Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States
        You are correct.
        delete
Posted: 2018-05-15T05:09:00 by info
Here is another scam:

-----Original Message-----
From: Taylor, Mark
Sent: 11 May 2018 02:34
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Batch#: PCH77362713.

Ref#: 028291931.

Batch#: PCH77362713.

You have won the Publishers Clearing House Grant Promo Dated 10th of May
2018.

To claim prize send your name and address to our agent on address:
dholland218@hotmail.com

Yours,
(Publishers Clearing House)
delete
Posted: 2018-05-12T16:31:18 by an anonymous user from or near: Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia
I too have had an approach. It comes from Messenger, from the account of a Lea Crombie. The face (and name) is that of a Lea Crombie whom I used to know. Of course, whether her account has been hacked I'm in no position to tell.

This is the conversation so far (after a brief exchange and many years silence):

Lea: Glad to hear from you am doing pretty good we hope you heard about the PCH program ?

Me: Nope

Lea: I meant the cash donated to randomly selected people by the Publishers Clearing House and the PokerStar Mega Bonus Association to help and support people financially.....You've not gotten yours?

Me: Never heard of it, Lea.

Lea: Let me explain, I won $100,000. I got it in cash and it was brought to my door step..When I was giving my signature on their list I saw your name as a winner too?

Me: Ah. Well... lucky me, I guess.

Lea: I think you we have to contact the online claiming agent in charge of this program do you know how to do that?

I haven't responded further. All I can add is that the Lea Crombie I knew (and the face on Messenger is the same) knew how to write. This person doesn't.
delete
Posted: 2018-05-12T12:36:24 by an anonymous user from or near: Merritt Island, Florida, United States
Is this a scam?

"FRM:Maxim, Sandy
MSG:You have won 1 Million from the PCH Grant Promo. To claim contact our agent here: dholland218@hotmail.com"
delete
- Posted: 2018-05-12T14:47:38 by info
  Yes, it is a scam.
  delete
Posted: 2018-05-11T10:34:59 by info
Received via email:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: May 11, 2018 10:03 AM
Subject: PCH Grant Scam

I was contacted through Instagram regarding a PCH Grant and told to contact attorney Phil Kent at 509-207-4754 to claim my grant and pay a processing fee.

Thank you kindly
delete
Posted: 2018-05-11T09:52:33 by an anonymous user from or near: Winter Haven, Florida, United States
I have received a text message on my cell phone:

From: taylorm@tcunion.org
"You have won the PCH Grant Promo. To claim contact our agent: dholland218@hotmail.com"
delete
Posted: 2018-04-12T17:47:29 by info
Here is another scam:

"From: "Boehler, Mary A. (US-POC1)"
Date: April 11, 2018 at 5:12:00 PM MDT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Batch#: P83728133.

Email Ref#: 43517391

Batch#: P83728133.

You have won the Publishers Clearing House Grant Promo Dated 10th of April 2018. To claim
prize send your name and address to our agent on address: agntdebh-pch18@outlook.com"
delete
Posted: 2018-03-26T21:46:26 by an anonymous user from or near: Richardson, Texas, United States
I was messenger by a acquaintance who said I should text this number 7155756516 and say a friend told me to text and claim my grant. Strange still do not understand it would not let send it so I guess that was a good thing
delete
Posted: 2018-03-18T05:42:15 by info
Here is another scam:

"From: "Simmons, Ingrid"
Date: 17 March 2018 at 20:56:02 GMT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: 833828211.

PCH Grant Notice Dated 3/17/2018.

Email Ref#: PGT83929561.

Batch#: 833828211.

Grant Amount: 1,000,000 USD.

You have won the PCH Grant Promo. To claim send your name and address to our agent on address: pchinquiry18@gmail.com

Publishers Clearing House(PCH)"
delete
Posted: 2018-03-16T07:18:27 by an anonymous user from or near: Evans, Georgia, United States
Receive the same as above this morning.
delete
Posted: 2018-03-12T19:46:19 by an anonymous user from or near: Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
I just received this:

"PCH Grant Notice Dated 3/12/2018.

Email Ref#: PCHG26371833.

Batch#: 553617173.

Grant Amount: 1,000,000 USD.

You have won the PCH Grant Promo. To claim send your name and address to our agent on address: pchgrant018@hotmail.com

Publishers Clearing House(PCH)"
delete
Posted: 2018-03-12T19:28:34 by an anonymous user from or near: North Hollywood, California, United States
I received this afternoon an email from Matthew Parsons from PCH telling me I have won the PCH grant promo of 1000,000usd,and to claim it, to send my name and address to the PCH agent on address:pch grant 018@hotmail.com. Is this how PCH inform winners? or this a scam?
delete
- Posted: 2018-03-13T00:54:01 by info
  It is a scam.
  delete