Publishers Clearing House

Victim Location 54235
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I received a letter which said I was a second place winner of $500,000.00 from PCH and included a check for $6334.00 for insurance and attorney fees. I was instructed not to discuss win with third parties, but to call the Claims Manager *** *** ** *** ** *** but I checked with BBB and see someone else also received a letter.

Victim Location 38060
Total money lost $400
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

Was first contacted by a friend stating that she had won $30,000.00 from PCH, and when the courier came to bring her check she saw my name on the list of winners. So she gave me the number and told me the name from PCH was James Payne. I was entering the number when He began texting me. Said he needed to verify my name and phone number so they could have a courier verify they were giving the right person the 30 thousand. In the end of the conversation he said are you ready to make your payment of 400.00 US dollars so I can send the courier out with the check. My friend did this and claims the check cleared. I checked with PCH and they said immediately it's a scam. They do not ask for money to receive prize. This just happened this past week. So it could take some time before the check they gave her will be recognized as a fraudulent transaction.

Victim Location 62301
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

Received a letter and check in the mail claiming we were second place winners in a sweepstakes by Reader's Digest, Mega Millions, Multi-state Lottery Association and we had won $550,000. It stated that Publisher's Clearing House had made all the arrangements to get us our winnings, including a check for almost $7900 (which was part of our winnings). We were instructed to contact our Claims officer, Larry Spencer at *** and we were given a security code that was ours to access our money. The letter stated we were not to discuss this with any third parties according to Federal and state laws - it must be kept confidential! At the bottom of the letters it had a list of companies involved including ** *** *** ** *** *** *** *** ***  We knew this was a scam, we wanted to find out what would happen when the number was called. When we got *** on the phone, he wanted to know why the husband (who the letter was addressed to) wasn't calling - "does he not speak english??". We told him that my husband doesn't handle these things, and he wanted to verify my address. When he asked for my phone number, I asked why he needed that? He thanked me and hung up! It's a scam - I'm sure they would have asked me to deposit the check they sent and send them some of the money to them before the bank realized the check was fake!

Victim Location 75933
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I received a phone call from a man. Caller ID was unknown number. He said that his name was James Bailey badge #1962. He stated that I was 1 or 200 Texans that had been chosen to receive an $800,000.00 check from the Publishing Clearing House. He asked me how I felt to win the money. I told him that I believed this was a scam. He told me that they were an "A" rated business with the ScamPulse.com. He gave me a conformation number. Then told me to call John Williams ph# 1-876-554-0466 to claim my money. I called the number and looked up scams on the ScamPulse.com website. As I started talking to John Williams he wanted my name and want me to spell it to him. I didn't give my name to him. I told him that it he was who he was saying he was, he would already have all my info. I also told him that I was logged into the ScamPulse.com website and there are complains about this scam. At that time he hung up on me.

Victim Location 38125
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

A man named David Peterson called my phone with no caller id. He said i won a sweepstakes i didn't sign up for. He said it was a gift box pomotion.

Victim Location 85705
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

My decesased Mother received a letter stating that she was second prize winner in their 100 Million Dollars Giveaway Promotion. Included with the letter was a check for $6598.00 from a company called OptumRx. The letter stated that the check was to cover attorney fees and insurance. It also stated that she was not to contact any outside third parties with the two phone numbers, 647-406-7937 and 647-407-0363, given.

Victim Location 77619
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

You've just won $million and a new car from Publisher's Clearing House. Told man that since they knew I was a winner, they already had my address and they should check by registered mail with address where I could pick up car. Oops, he hung up.

Victim Location 97203
Type of a scam Government Grant

My girlfriend's Instagram's account was hacked. Scammer reached out to me regarding a 150,000 grant for a delivery fee of $1,500.00. She reported that she had been hacked

Victim Location 28779
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

A man called me claiming that I won 2.5 million from publishers clearing house....from Jamaica. I hung up he then called back with his number blocked

Victim Location 19713
Type of a scam Advance Fee Loan

The scammer called claiming to be Publisher's Clearing House, claiming I won 208 million dollars AND a vehicle, but I needed to withdraw $500 cash and go to a Walgreen's to Western Union it to them. Or deposit it in Phillip Jordan's account, account #***-**-***6. I declined, and they hung up.

Victim Location 59046
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I received a call from a gentleman with a very heavy accent stating that he was with PCH, working through the BBB and I had won 1.8 million dollars and a new car. I was told to wire $325 dollars for processing fees. I told him I would not wire it but would mail it to him. I was told to mail it overnight. I was also given the names of Robert Hall, Michael Washington, and Michael Peterson.

Victim Location 32505
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

David King was the name of the representative. Wanted me to get a green dot in the amount of 500.00 and said he did a backqround check on me & said I could get 2,000.00. Wanted me to stay on the phone with him to get the green dot card & they were going to deliver me 2.6 million along with a Mercedez. Asked me if I wanted to meet at my residence, airport or police station. Also wanted to know if I wanted to receive the winnings privately or publicly, if publicly they would bring the paparazzi along with cameras to take pictures to post publicly. Seemed to want to lure me out of the house.

Victim Location 84754
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I received a phone call stating I was the lucky winner of a 6 month contest sponsored by Publisher's Clearing House. I would be awarded a cashier's check for 2 1/2 million dollars and a Jeep to drive for a month for free. He asked a lot of questions about our address and began telling us the need to pay for the UPS delivery of the check. I called PCH on the cell phone while my wife listened to his story and was told that they would never make a call like that. I told him I new he was a crook and hung up on him. We did not give any financial information or Social Security information. He was really quite smooth and really wanted us to believe his scheme.

Victim Location 35630
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

[email protected]

Congratulation on winning 850,000.00 USD in our 2018 PCH Lottery.

Kindly send your contacts to [email protected]

*Given Names:

*Mailing Address:

*Telephone:

*Gender:

*Age: Kristin Cooke Official Notification

Victim Location 96734
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

This animal AKA "Cora Brown" called my gran's phone and got me instead. I strung him along for about 15 minutes pretending to be her to get as much info from him as I could. He told me that I'd won the publishers clearing house sweepstakes and that the check would be delivered on Monday as long as I mailed him a money order for nearly $400 first. He requested I call him back once I had the cash and was at the post office so that he could tell me his name and address. I told him I could just write it down so I wasn't rude by calling when I got to the post office. He then proceeded to coach me through every step he wanted done and cuss me out when I told him he'd forgotten a step: report him.

Victim Location 63901
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

First the caller asked if I could hear him and I said yes. He then proceeded to tell me he was from publishers clearing house and I had won 40,000 dollars and a Mercedes Benz. He said to write down the check number and call a number and ask for Robert Miller at ext. 5 to find out if the check wasn't a fraud. When I didn't call the number back he called me again and that's when I informed him that this is a scam and he hung up.

Victim Location 38118
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

On April 11, 2018 at 9:28 AM I received a phone call from David Brown (876-357-4212) who stated he was from Publisher's Clearing House and I won 3 1/2 million dollars and a 2018 Mercedes Benz. I was instructed to purchase 2 money orders from either Walgreens, or CVS or Walmart for $400 & $320 (total $720). I was to send the money orders to: Winston Daniels, 5100 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19139 & David gave me

a call back number 876-392-7588. I did not return the call and reported those numbers to the FTC.

Victim Location 38139
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I received a call this morning at 9:52 AM from PCH stating I won 12 million dollars. I spoke to a man who stated I had to pay a fee of $550 for the delivery. They would deliver it to our house today and I should have the check ready. I told him I was not interested because there was a delivery charge and hung up.

Victim Location 32505
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

He said was from the Publishers Clearing House and I won $950,000 and a car. Gave me a pick up number and told me I would have to pay $1500.00 to them through Walmart, CVS, or Target.

Victim Location 43154
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I hadn't entered Publisher's Clearinghouse for ten years, then 2 months ago I entered. Then today, I got a message saying I had won 2.3 million dollars in a certified cashier's check, cash award of $155,000 in a black briefcase, in hundred and fifties, Walmart VISA gift services card $5000 exp 2023 so I don't have to spend it all at once in the Publisher's Clearinghouse monthly drawing. I called the number back 876-570-5978. He said the money would be delivered to my house. Then I would be escorted to that bank of my choice.

They called back the next day and told me I had won money and a Mercedes Benz. I needed to pay 1% of the winnings so they could put a sticker on the voucher to show that I already paid so Homeland Security wouldn't think I was money laundering. I wouldn't answer yes to anything and that annoyed him. He asked why I wasn't saying yes. I asked if I was close to Walmart. He said Sir, I am being honest with you, I am recording this conversation. I said I am also recording this conversation and have a with a Deputy with me. 

This caller seemed very knowledgeable. I asked why their phone number came up Jamaica, and he said Jamaica, NY.