How to Spot and Avoid Publishers Clearing House Scams

I’ve lost count of the number of dreams where I answer my phone to someone saying I’ve won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. I’m then instantly transported to a shop counter where I’m buying Ghostbuster-style Air Jordans that are locked behind a glass case.

But thousands of people get these calls daily. They usually follow with a request to wire money to a bank account to cover taxes and processing fees. This is just one of the signs of Publishers Clearing House scams.

In this guide, we’ll reveal the other red flags of this scam and what to do if you accidentally fall for it.

Is Publishers Clearing House a Scam?

It’s important to set the record straight immediately. Publishers Clearing House is a legitimate business. The company has been around since 1953 and sells magazines and merchandise.

Publishers Clearing House also organizes contests, games, and sweepstakes as a strategy to promote subscriptions. According to its website, it has given away over half a billion dollars in prize money.1

Does Anyone Win From Publishers Clearing House?

The legitimate Publishers Clearing House promotes the previous winners of their sweepstakes on their websites. For prizes under $600, winners will receive a check via certified mail that’s ready to cash.

For larger prizes, the company shows up on your doorstep with a giant check and film crew. They’ll also hand you a regular-size check you can take to the bank.

What Is the Publishers Clearing House Scam?

The scam involves an email, text message, phone call, or social media message claiming you won a prize in the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. It’s often a considerable figure. We’re talking thousands or even millions. But you can only claim the winnings by wiring money, paying with gift cards, or handing over personally identifiable information.

Sometimes, people are sent fake checks with a phone number to call for instructions on how to cash them. They’ll ask you to wire some of the funds, which forces you to pay the difference when it bounces.

>>Learn More: What is a Scam, and How Can You Avoid One?

Types of Publishers Clearing House Scams

There are a few ways the Publishers Clearing House scam can happen. These are the most common approaches.

Social Media Notifications

If you get a message on social media from Publishers Clearing House, you can ignore it. Scammers set up fake accounts on all the major social media platforms and slide into DMs, hoping someone will believe them.

In extreme cases, they’ve even set up fake accounts for Publishers Clearing House employees. The best action you can take is to ignore these requests and report the account to the social media company.

>> Find Out: The Data Big Tech Companies Have on You

Scam Calls

When they can’t get to you on social media, they’ll try calling you. Scammers will pretend to be representatives from Publishers Clearing House and ask you to verify your identity to claim the prize. They will even request a payment to cover processing fees and taxes.

However, you should hang up immediately. Publishers Clearing House never calls winners. They also never ask them to make a payment over the phone with money or gift cards.

Claims Agents

One of the messages you might receive via phone or email is a notification to contact a claims agent. It’s a common trick to give you the impression that you’re dealing with a professional organization.

However, the goal of the claims agent is to get as much of your personally identifiable information as possible. They will sell these details on the dark web or use them to steal your identity.

Fake Checks

Publishers Clearing House sends checks for prizes under $600. If you get a check in the mail for a higher amount, then it is a scam.

If it’s under $600 and requires you to pay legal fees or insurance before cashing the check, it’s also a scam. Publishers Clearing House checks can be taken directly to the bank and cashed.

How to Identify the Scam

The first sign of the Publishers Clearing House scam is when you receive an email, text message, phone call, or social media message. The company will never attempt to contact you in this way. Here’s how you can tell what is real and what isn’t.

>> Read More: How to Prevent Being Scammed Online in 2024

What to Do If You’re Scammed

If you are a victim of the Publishers Clearing House scam, there are steps you can take to minimize the damage. This is what we recommend:

• Contact Publishers Clearing House directly: You can confirm the correspondence you’re receiving is real while letting them know about the details of the scam.
• Call the U.S. Postal Service: If you’ve received a fake check, let the USPS know, and they can update their processes to reduce the number of other people receiving them.
• Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission: Fill out an identity theft report. It will help dispute fraudulent transactions and repair your credit if scammers attempt to take out loans in your name.
• Speak to your bank: Monitor your transactions and let the bank know you’ve been scammed so they can take the necessary steps to protect your funds and identity.
• Freeze your credit: Use an identity theft protection service to lock your credit and stop scammers from taking out loans in your name.
• Invest in identity theft protection services: The best identity theft protection services can do all the monitoring for you and scrape the dark web for your personal details in case it’s up for sale on criminal forums.

How to Avoid Getting Scammed

We’d all love to believe we’ve won millions of dollars. But unfortunately, scammers prey on these dreams. The moment we let our guard down and hand over personal information, we risk having our identity stolen and the hard-earned money in our bank accounts drained.

It’s time-consuming and challenging to monitor everything attached to our name, phone number, address, and bank details. But an identity theft protection service makes it easier. It detects unusual transactions, notifies you when someone is using your Social Security number and sends alerts if anyone tries to take out loans with your details. Most importantly, it can help you get your life back on track if someone steals your identity.