PCH Doesn't Make Phone Calls

You've seen it multiple times, Publisher's Clearing House (PCH) surprising their lucky winner on the doorstep of their home. The Delaware County Sheriff's office wants you to know: "... PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE DOES NOT CALL the actual winners of their prizes."

Here is the statement that the Delaware County Sheriff's Office made on their Facebook page after Delaware County residents started to receive these phone calls:

Press Release: Publishers Clearinghouse Scam

FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION:

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is cautioning county residents to be on guard in regards to a recent PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE SCAM making its way around the counties of New York State and across the nation. This scam typically targets elderly persons as well as other vulnerable persons.

The scammer claiming to be from PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE persistently calls trying to convince the victim that they’ve won a large amount of money or a vehicle or some other prize and then advises the victim to send money (via Western Union, green dot cards, gift cards or by some other method) to an address typically outside of the United States to cover alleged taxes, and other fees associated with “winning the prizes”.

On 1/28/2019, a concerned Delaware County resident reported having received numerous calls from a man who said he was with PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE, who then advised her that she had won $5.5 million dollars and a 2019 Mercedes vehicle. The persistent male caller who said his name was “Norman” advised the resident to purchase a Western Union money order in the amount of $850 to cover miscellaneous taxes and fees associated with her “winnings” and to send it to an address in Jamaica. Thankfully, in this case the resident was familiar with this scam and did not fall victim to the scheme.

In other past cases, some victims have received checks in the mail and were directed to deposit them into their bank accounts and then in turn to send a certain amount of money back to the sender (via Western Union or by purchasing gift cards) to cover taxes and miscellaneous expenses related to the “prizes”. In these cases, the checks were found to be fraudulent and the resident was then held accountable by the banks for the funds sent.

RESIDENTS should know that PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE DOES NOT CALL the actual winners of their prizes.

For further information on legitimate PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE PRIZE GIVEAWAYS refer to the following link: https://pch.custhelp.com/ or for General Questions call: 1-800-459-4724

DO NOT BE SCAMMED BY THESE CALLERS.

DO NOT GIVE THE CALLER ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION NOR ANY FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR BANKING INFORMATION.

IF YOU RECIVE A CALL FROM SOMEONE PURPORTING TO BE FROM PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE, HANG UP THE PHONE. THE SCAMMERS ARE PERSISTENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO ENGAGE THE VICTIM. SIMPLY HANG UP AND DO NOT ENGAGE.