What is a PCH phone call?
Definition
A PCH phone call is a call, text or letter claiming you've won a Publishers Clearing House prize. Unexpected ones are scams: the caller wants you to pay fees or taxes to collect winnings that don't exist.
- Category
- Scams
- Also called
- Publishers Clearing House call, PCH prize call
- Last updated
PCH stands for Publishers Clearing House, a real sweepstakes company that has been around for decades. Because the name is well known, scammers borrow it. According to the FTC, the scam starts with a call or letter saying you've won, but to collect you have to send money for supposed fees and taxes.
How the scam works
The caller says you've won a large prize, sometimes with a car, and that a prize team is ready to deliver. First there is a cost to pay: a "processing fee", "insurance" or "taxes". The FTC says scammers ask for payment by gift cards or wire transfers, or send a realistic-looking check and tell you to deposit it and send part of the money back. The check later bounces and the money you sent is gone.
A typical call: an unfamiliar number tells you that you've won 2.5 million dollars and asks you to stay on the line and keep it secret until the prize van arrives.
What the real company does
The FTC reports that the real Publishers Clearing House says it will never ask you to pay a fee to collect a prize, and that it does not notify winners in advance. Any caller who says otherwise is not PCH.
Caller ID won't help
Scammers can make any name or number show up on your screen, so a call that appears to come from PCH proves nothing.
Why it matters
As well as the money, scammers collect your name, address and bank details during the call. Those can be reused for identity theft or sold to other scammers.
PCH phone call vs. real PCH marketing
In 2023 the FTC took action against PCH itself over how it marketed its own sweepstakes. That was a separate matter from impostor calls.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Hang up if you're asked to pay anything
A real prize never needs a fee, a tax payment or gift cards up front. Don't call back the number they give you.
- 2
Check through contact details you find yourself
If you're unsure, look up Publishers Clearing House's official contact details on your own and ask. Don't use the number from the call.
- 3
Never deposit a check and send money back
The check can take days to bounce, and by then the transfer is final.
- 4
Report it
Report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. It helps investigators and takes a few minutes.
- 5
Don't share personal details with a caller
Never read out your bank details, Social Security number or one-time codes to someone who rang you.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
Is a call from PCH real?
If it's unexpected and about a prize you have to pay to claim, no. According to the FTC, the real company never asks for a fee to collect a prize and doesn't notify winners in advance.
Why do scammers use the PCH name?
It's a trusted, well-known brand, so a prize story sounds believable. Scammers can also spoof caller ID to make the call look genuine.
What should I do if I already paid?
Contact your bank or the gift card company right away to try to stop the payment, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
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