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Second, neither the IRS nor state taxes are required to be paid in order to get your prize money. No taxes are owed before income or prizes are received. It is owed only afterwards at filing or via estimated payments. In fact, the entire tax code is based on voluntary compliance. Why would 10% be owed for federal taxes and less than 0.32% be owed for state taxes? I don't think the spammers know anything about U.S. tax law.
Staying Safe from PCH Impersonator Scams
Some will send you a realistic-looking fake check in the mail. You’re told that, to claim your prize, you need to deposit the check and send some of the money back for made-up expenses. But when the check you deposit bounces — even after it seemed to clear — you may be on the hook for the money you sent. Publishers Clearing House (PCH) does NOT send e-mails notifying consumers that they have won a major prize. If you win a major prize in our sweepstakes, the PCH Prize Patrol will contact you in person.
Don't Give Out Confidential Information When You Enter
Our friends at AT&T want to warn you of an 809 Area Code Scam. Please click on this link for more information and stay protected. You guys rock thank you for keeping us Seniors (and others), up to date on the latest scams. I never answere the phone unless I recognize the caller. More recently, in June 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that Publishers Clearing House agreed to settle a lawsuit with the agency for $18.5 million. The FTC said it would detail the refund process soon.
Recent Consumer Alerts
If you receive any communication claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, do your due diligence. Contact the company directly and make sure you’re not getting scammed. When he got home, Beley reported the fraud to the real Publishers Clearing House. They told him they never call ahead when presenting awards, he said. Since last year, multiple San Joaquin County residents have been contacted by someone claiming they won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.
Before You Leave, Check This Out
Fraudsters will sometimes ask victims to open new accounts in order to claim prizes. But in order to do so, you’ll need to “verify” your identity by sharing a bank account number or other sensitive personal information. This allows scammers to take control of the account and steal your identity. Scammers posing as Publishers Clearing House use a host of tactics, including phone calls, and direct messages from social media accounts, according to the Publishers Clearing House fraud protection page.
At Publishers Clearing House the winning is always free and you never have to pay any amount to enter or win. Be aware that PCH and other legitimate sweepstakes/lotteries don’t charge players to claim their prize or ask for money up front. PCH notes on its site that it would never contact winners of its major prizes in advance; its Prize Patrol only shows up “live and in person” to surprise them. With sweepstakes season in full swing, it’s important to protect your interests, your identity and your money. While winning the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes may seem too good to be true, it can happen.
Learn how the FTC protects free enterprise and consumers
Scammer gets $600K from elderly Troy woman who thought she won sweepstakes - WDIV ClickOnDetroit
Scammer gets $600K from elderly Troy woman who thought she won sweepstakes.
Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Customers who bought subscriptions were led to believe that it would increase their odds of winning, but that was never the case. If you or someone you know have ever won their sweepstakes, the question of legitimacy may be moot, but for the majority of us, the question — “Is Publishers Clearing House a scam? For more tips on how to avoid Publishers Clearing House scams, visit the Contest Integrity section of the PCH website, PCH.com. Before you respond to any win notice, especially those from big companies like PCH, take some steps to verify your prize wins. "It says I won $2.5 million. And, of course, I know I didn't. But I have a check for $7,890 that looks so authentic," one viewer said in a voicemail.
At Publishers Clearing House we do not notify major prize winners by e-mail. First I need to inform you that you did not hear from the real Publishers Clearing House. PCH would never request that you send money to claim a prize and we never notify major prize winners by phone or email. The information you provide is entered into our PCH Scam database which we share with the Federal Trade Commission. Their database is then shared with law enforcement authorities around the country. In many cases the Publishers Clearing House name or sound-alike name is illegally used.
If you are not experienced, a scam can seem legitimate. This year, one of our clients called us because he had won a Publishers Clearing House prize of $18.5 million and needed to speak with me as soon as possible. Already without more information, there are red flags.
If anyone tells you you've won a million bucks from PCH other than the Prize Patrol, you know you can ignore the message. GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology. Seniors are at a higher risk of identity theft and fraud. Compare the best identity theft protection services for seniors and decide which one is right for you.
I recieved two messages from "PCH" and kept them on my answerinng machine so my friends could be aware. But far more people end up feeling disappointed and tricked by reading too much into PCH’s well-written “You may be a winner” headers on its correspondence. The truth is that people do win Publishers Clearing House prizes. Just this year, a Florida woman won $40,000 from a PCH prize, according to a newspaper account. If you have received a letter or email from Publishers Clearing House and wondered about the legality of its claims, here’s what you need to know. You don't have to give Publishers Clearing House your address, PCH account number, bank account number, driver's license number, or any other confidential information when you enter.
Perhaps the most frightening part of the story is that he was told that after he had the money in his bank account, a personal representative by the name of Norma Dixon would accompany him to the bank. This is exactly the same name used in the exact same scam in this report from over a year ago. First, Publishers Clearing House never calls in advance of giving a prize. Normally, they show up at your house with a big cardboard check and a film crew. For lesser prizes, they may send you something in the mail. Spammers do not want to send you something in the mail because the punishment for mail fraud is a fine up to $1 million and imprisonment for up to 30 years.
$10,000” McKinley Harris from Winston-Salem exclaimed in 2018. Christina Ianzito is the travel and books editor for aarp.org and AARP The Magazine, and also edits and writes health, entertainment and other stories for aarp.org. She received a 2020 Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing. No matter where you live, fraud is never far away. Report a scam or search for existing scams near you.
Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy. You’ve been entering the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes for decades with high hopes. However, before you can claim your prize, there are some additional steps to take, according to the phone representative. GOBankingRates works with many financial advertisers to showcase their products and services to our audiences.
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