Publishers Clearing House scam calls: why "you've won" means hang up
Quick answer
If someone says you won Publishers Clearing House and asks you to pay a fee, tax or shipping charge first, it's a scam. PCH says it never calls and never charges to enter or claim a prize. Hang up and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Comes by
- Phone call, Mail, Email, Text
- Pretends to be
- Publishers Clearing House
- Last updated
How it works
The FTC says scammers pretend to be Publishers Clearing House (PCH) and tell you that you won a big prize. To collect, you first have to pay "taxes", shipping and handling or a processing fee.
The payment is usually requested by Western Union or MoneyGram, or with a reloadable or gift card. Some versions mail a realistic check and ask you to send part of it back. The FTC warns that when the check bounces, even after it seemed to clear, you may owe the money you sent.
Caller ID can be faked, so the call can show any name or number. PCH says its Prize Patrol shows up with a Big Check, and that a phone call claiming you've won is a scam.
Red flags
- A call, text or email saying you won a prize you didn't enter
- A fee, tax or shipping charge to collect the prize
- Payment by gift card, reloadable card, Western Union or MoneyGram
- A check that asks you to send some money back
- Pressure to keep it secret or act today
- Caller ID that shows a PCH name or number
Example message
Congratulations, you have won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. To release your prize, pay the $[amount] processing fee with gift cards, then call [phone number] with the numbers.
What to do
- 1
Hang up and don't pay
PCH says no purchase or fee is needed to enter or win. Any request for money first is the scam.
- 2
Don't deposit a check and send money back
The FTC says a check can bounce after it seems to clear, and you may owe what you sent.
- 3
If you paid, contact the payment company
Tell the gift card company, Western Union, MoneyGram or your bank right away that it was fraud and ask if the payment can be stopped.
- 4
Block the number and ignore follow-ups
Scammers call again, sometimes offering to recover your money for a fee.
- 5
Protect your details if you shared them
Change passwords on accounts you mentioned and watch your statements. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers more.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Prize scammers call from lists of names and numbers. Those lists can include names and numbers pulled from people-search sites.
Serus finds where your phone number, address and email are listed on people-search sites and other data brokers and files removal requests, and it alerts you when your details turn up in a breach. That won't stop every message, but it gives scammers less to work with.
Frequently asked
Does Publishers Clearing House call winners?
PCH says it doesn't. It says winners are told by the Prize Patrol with a Big Check, and a phone call claiming you've won is a scam.
Do I have to pay taxes or fees to claim a prize?
Not to the scammer. The FTC says "you've won, now pay us" is always a scam.
Is Publishers Clearing House a scam?
No. PCH is a real company. Scammers pretend to be PCH.
I got a check in the mail. Is it safe to deposit?
If you're asked to send money back, no. The FTC warns the check can bounce and you may owe the money.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
