PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them

Scammers send out thousands of PCH scams every year, therefore, this is what you need to know. 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.

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PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them

A PCH Sweepstakes Scam

From: fieldman.pch@socialworker.net

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2019, 02:16:54 AM PDT

Subject: Re: About Your $550,000.00 Win (Contact City-Connect To Collect)

LOTTO REMITTANCE OFFICE

INTERNATIONAL LIFE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SCHEME1V,

REF: PCH/00198/61890000000018Re:

Registered Lottery No 0018391

Winner's Identification No. For Prize Collections-CCLS/26/09/19/IN/TR

Dear 2019 Selected Winner,

Your email id have won you Grant Prize from the PCH Grant Donation

To redeem prize

Publishers Clearing House(

reply back with your name and address.

Congratulations!

PCH)

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.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

Comments (Total: 11)

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July 24, 2020 at 1:37 PM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
an anonymous user from: Leeds, Alabama, United States

I received a call claiming I was a winner of PCH sweepstakes. Their names are Kenneth West (his number was restricted). He told me to call a lawyer named Mary Smith at 1-876-416-5409. He said I need to pay a few of $3905. When I said I couldn't do it he came back with $500. Wanted the money out on One Vanilla gift card. I believe this to be a big scam.

Delete

July 15, 2020 at 7:52 PM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
an anonymous user from: Kansas City, Missouri, United States

I got a call from 5164005404 stating that I had won 2 place in the PCH Sweet Stakes - Reporting for I do believe it is a scram. They call themselves John Davis and Kenneth Washington.

Delete

June 30, 2020 at 11:55 PM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
info

"I received a phone call from 702-747-7057, a robocall telling me I had won 2nd place in the PCH sweepstakes.

I was directed to call 916-905-7532 op 2 to claim my prize.

Online both numbers are listed as phishing or scamming tools.

I did not call either number. I found this email address on your website to report possible scams."

Received via email.

Delete

February 14, 2020 at 10:32 PM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
an anonymous user from: Chapel Hill, Tennessee, United States

I was called this evening by a Mr. Andrew Goldberg who informed me that I had been picked just one hour ago that I was the winner of the $5.5 million dollar prize. He told me all I had to do was send $720 to a Mr. Robert Shoup in Shoshone, Idaho, which is the IRS Finance department. I looked it up and it is a private home! I also looked up the cell phone number who called, and, it is from Digicel, Jamaica. As a matter of fact, he said that he was going to go to go to Ocho Rios, Jamaica in 2 weeks!

My Husband and I believe it is a scam, and no, we are not rushing to the post office and sending Mr. Shoup our hard earned $720 overnight delivery! Yes, would I like to win, oh golly yes, but, I find it hard to trust people anymore. By the way, while on the phone with Goldberg, he transferred my phone call over to the IRS agent, Sharon Burke. I asked for her identification number, which she told me. After about 4-5 minutes, I asked her for her number again, and she gave me a different number. She said that she was an agent for 15 years, and, well, I just figured that she would have remembered her number! SCAM ALERT!

Delete

February 15, 2020 at 5:21 AM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
info

It is a scam. The Jamaican scammers up to their old tricks again.

Delete

February 11, 2020 at 10:03 AM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
an anonymous user from: Bracknell, England, United Kingdom

I have been contacted via messenger from a Sandra David asking to contact an agent with a link sent as follows:

hxxps://m.me/AgentTara.lyndey.790

Is this another scam?

Delete

February 11, 2020 at 10:33 AM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
info

Yes, it is another scam.

Delete

February 12, 2020 at 2:11 AM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
an anonymous user from: Bracknell, England, United Kingdom

Thank you - I knew I'd never be that lucky!

Delete

January 9, 2020 at 7:45 PM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
an anonymous user from: New York, United States

I tried to enter, but, can not get pass the pages of offers, seems to be no way to enter without buying something!

Delete

October 19, 2019 at 2:58 PM by
PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them
an anonymous user from: Post Falls, Idaho, United States

I just got one 10-19-2019 from pch@acraccademia.it. I just checked it out on this website and it has ALL the above criteria of Cristina Papadopol, but the name used was LorI Sayer. WATCH OUT. To all the people who play at PCH GOOD LUCK!

Delete

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Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

PCH Sweepstakes Scams and How to Spot Them