Potent Publishers Clearing House Sweepstake Scams sprout across US
Photo by: d70focus
Publishers Clearing House (PCH) has long been the target of scams. Fraudsters have commonly used the name of the company to run what are popularly called ‘sweepstake scams’. Reports from across US indicate fraudsters are using its name presently to make fresh victims. Several complaints, reporting the scam, have turned up nationwide (Findlay OH, City of Tonawanda NY, Monroe MI, Plymouth IN, and Indian River and St. Lucie counties FL).
The scam uses the name of Publishers Clearing House as a front for a sweepstakes scam. It is especially targeted at senior citizens and calls, mails or emails people informing them they have won a sweepstakes run by PCH. It informs recipients, prize money ranging from 250,000 dollars to One million dollars was theirs for the taking. All they are asked to do to claim the prize is to cash a check sent by the fraudsters and wire part of the amount to a third person.
The scam bears several attributes that make it compelling. In its mails, it lists names and phone numbers of several officials and encourages recipients to give them a call. It even features the name and phone number of an IRS agent expressly deputed to handle their claim.
The checks sent by fraudsters are especially potent. Cleverly forged, it imitates several security features. To begin with, it uses original check paper and carries real routing numbers and account numbers. Then, it bears embossed seal and signature as well as security watermarks. The check is also known to have come out clean when scrutinized using ultra violet light!
The ordinary mailings carry Canadian postmarks indicating the scam to be work of fraudsters based overseas. They may have trained the scams on people across the country.
Readers, beware!
Related posts:
- Publishers Clearing House Scam Emerging With Email Prize ,Warns BBB
- Never EVER fall for a Canadian Sweepstakes Scam!
- Scam Warning ! Sweepstakes Scams Can Season Again
- Lottery Scam for the Hearing Impaired!!
- Sweepstakes-All Scams and Lies!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am
[...] from:Potent Publishers Clearing House Sweepstake Scams sprout across US Categories: Online ScamTags: clearing, clearing-house, company, country, fraud-and-scam-news, [...]
December 5th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Unfortunately, I just got a call from the scam artists. I hung up when they began to ask personal questions then I checked several sites out and now I fully believe that they tried to scam me. I am annoyed at how those people can get away with it without any major repercussions.
December 8th, 2008 at 4:53 am
[...] Potent Publishers Clearing House Sweepstake Scams sprout across US By admin Publishers Clearing House (PCH) has long been the target of scams. Fraudsters have commonly used the name of the company to run what are popularly called ‘sweepstake scams’. Reports from across US indicate fraudsters are using its name … Fraud and Scam News - http://www.419legal.org/blog/ [...]
December 17th, 2008 at 8:26 am
AWARD NOTIFCATION COMMISSION DISPOSITION AND CONTACT CENTER
AWARD IDENTIFICATION HEADQUARTERS
P.O.BOX 2905
Kanasas City
Kansas 66110-2905
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AMOUNT $2,000,000.00
ANC KANSAS CITY, KS
REFERRINGTO AWARD #7824c,
TARGETBASE REFERENCE AND EXCLUSIVE ID NUMBER 263107399 RECIPENT ON RECORD(NAME/ADDRESS PRINTOUT VERIFICATION) JOHNNIE JACKSON P.O.513 Sumiton Ala 35148-o513.
BARCODE 65450697-287775
WINNER’ FUNDS confirmed for potential payment and await Winner’s Selection. choices are$66,667.00. annually for 30 years (total$2,000,000,.00) or a single lump sum cash payment of $1,056,000,00. (SectiocB/NO.3above). N202-561)-u
December 27th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I believe Ihave been contacted from every single lottery,from places from Nigeria to Afganistan, to several and I do mean several other places in other countries.
I actually thought for a moment I had got lucky (HA-HA),I never gave any bank info. only my name and address on some of them.I know that was even stupid, my husband was very mad at me ,and said not to even open and read anything else from anyone claiming i’ve won anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iguess Igot lucky and did’nt go any further with anything.I always told them if Iwon so much money, why do Ihave to send them money to the courier if I’m rich now take it out of that money.And usually never got a response again. BEWARE!
January 20th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
I to almost got scamed myself although thanks to the internet I looked the place up before I did anything.
this also was sent to me by the Award Notification Commission in the amount of $2,000,000.00.
Please people make sure you check things out before you give anyone your information. If you see any piece of mail with a signature of William McPherson please just throw away. My ID # was 651623688 don’t respond to this, this is most definatly fraud don’t respond.
Sorry I’m just trying to look out for you guys so you don’t get scamed also. And for most please protect your information and don’t give it out to nobody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 5th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Publishers Clearing House Sweepstake Scams sprout across US was a perfect blog in the world of fl auto insurance.
February 18th, 2009 at 12:39 am
I was told to deposit a check and when it cleared to give Mr.smith a phone call from east coast financial associates.Well I took it and deposited it figuring they would tell me if it was any good or not.Well I have now lost my bank account from the good people of bank of america as a result of depositing a fradulant check that really looked ligit.I am not a dummy but new to the scams out there due to just now learning the computer.I have spoke to Bank of America here in Lincoln City Oregon several times and they keep saying thats just the way it is and now as a result I have no account and was reported to chex systems who dont answer thre phones.I have been so much as called a fradulent check casher and they wont look at my side of this mess.Anyone who could assist me with this delima I would be gratefull,I am sure disappointed in Bank of America,and thought their depositers were of some importance but apparently not,scamers get away with it and I am penalized for hopeing the bank would just check that checks legality.And now I can not even open a new account as a result.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Iam sure I’ve been scammed to OF THE 2008 SWEEPSTAKES GRANDPRIZE 2 MILLION $ SWEEPSTAKES. i recieved notifaction being the grand prize winner Now responding that $ in limbo and offering a goild chain for $11.89. as my winnings (confused) please respond from anyone reading this. Thank You Sheldon
March 20th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I just got a call from a group who said they were Publishers Clearing not Publishers Clearing House. And they told me I was 1in5 finalist. Is this part of the same scam? In case it is I didn’t give them any of my information. ^_^
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
If any email, letter, etc. claims that you have won a contest, lottery, etc that you did not enter then it is a scam!!! Kinda like saying you won the mega millions a didn’t buy a ticket, not gonna happen! Give up the hope of winning these things that are fraudulant. My mom has high hopes in these scams also. I tell her to just throw the mail away. The more scams you reply to, the more scams you will recieve!! If you wanna win some money the best and legit way is to buy a lottery ticket!
April 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I to have been scammed 800dollars worthto publishers clearing house my moneys where out of the country so I was told I had to pay for a gold stamp to get money back into us.dada.
April 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I recieved the call from Jamaica and hung up and THEY CALLED BACK! I told them it sounded like a scam but he swore it was for real. Same deal. Cash a check and forward some to another party. He had my address and then he asked if I had entered any Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes in the past 2 years. If I had won, I would have had to enter. Duh! I find it very frustrating that these scams can go on and they authorities can’t stop them or catch them! We need to educate people, especially the elderly, about scams.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
The scammer harassed my grandmother for over two months before the Police got a hold of him…
April 15th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
The style of writing is quite familiar to me. Have you written guest posts for other bloggers?
April 16th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I AM IN COURT FIGHTING A FELONY CHARGE BECAUSE OF THIS SCAM SO IF YOU CAN GET ME ANY INFORMATION ON PAST VICTIMS I WILL BE GRATEFULLY APPRECIATIVE, MY LIFE IS EXPERIENCING A DRASTIC EFFECT DUE TO THIS I REALLY THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS REAL, AND I CAN’T BELIEVE MY BANK WASN’T INFORMED OF THE SCAM AND MADE ME THE VICTIMN AND NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS MATTER ON MY NAME FOR THE RST OF MY LIFE AND I CAN NO LONGER BANK WITH A BANKING INSTITUTION FOR SEVERAL YEARS IF I CAN NOT WIN THIS CASE OR EVEN GET THE CHARGES DROPPED…
PLEASE HELP ME CLEAR MY NAME…
SINCERELY YOURS,
KIMEYO J DANIELS
April 18th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
It is also very important that everyone realizes that under US law, a citizen cannot enter a foreign lottery. My mother has also received calls from overseas, but just laughs at them and hangs up. She, like Mark G., received repeated calls from Jamaica (they come up on caller ID as “Jamaica”) One day, I answered one of these calls by saying “Hello, Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, can I help you”? The calls stopped!
If anyone calls you from outside the US about winnings, DO NOT fall for it- it’s definitely a scam!
May 7th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I just got a call from someone claiming to be from publishers clearing house saying I won $250,000 then asked me a few questions. He then said to get the money I would have to pay a processing fee. I asked how much and I think he said about $175. At that point I hung up and processed to check the internet for any scams like this. Please beware and don’t ever pay anything to anyone who claims you won some money!