Millions of people are now receiving their Publishers Clearing House packages promising the possibility of getting $1,000,000 a year for life.
The odds of getting scammed by crooks using Publishers Clearing House mailings as a bait is much higher than winning any money.
Beverly Wheeler, who lives west of Hartford, Ct., asked me whether anyone actually won and wondered what the “gimmick” was.
“I keep getting these in the mail saying ‘I’m going to win, and I would respond and send my mail back sometimes without buying magazine subscriptions and then I would get more things back from them saying I am very close to winning. Then I would send that back to them and I finally just threw the mail in the garbage because I got tired of them saying I was about to win,” she wrote me.
Well Beverly, some people have won money from Publishers Clearing House, especially after the company was sued by Connecticut and 25 other states 11 years ago, and it had to pay a $34 million settlement and promise to stop lying to the public.
While Publishers Clearing House may only result in harmless fantasies, other unscrupulous people use the mid-January through February period to inundate consumers with similar sounding offers intended to steal money or sensitive information.
Both the Better Business Bureau in several states and Ct Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein are warning consumers not fall for any of these offers that request you buy magazines, merchandise, pay up front fees, or disclose sensitive financial information in return for possible windfalls.
“We encourage consumers who are receiving questionable sweepstakes promotions from Publisher’s Clearing house and similar organizations to forward them, along with a written complaint, to the Department of Consumer Protection,” said the commissioner. “We get a few complaints each year, but in recent months we’ve seen one that appears to be a scam using the Publisher’s Clearinghouse brand as a front for requesting personal financial information from consumers.”
One recently discovered scam involves both the Better Business Bureau and Publishers Clearing House, the BBB says.
Consumers are contacting BBB advising they are receiving calls from people claiming to work for the Better Business Bureau concerning an investigation BBB was doing on the award Publisher’s Clearing House presents to consumers. Consumers are told they have won a prize from the sweepstakes, but tells them they have to pay a fee to receive the money.
“Never pay a fee, no matter how small, for winning a contest, sweepstakes or lottery,” the BBB says.
Similar Posts:
- Conn Starts Fake Check Scam Education Effort
- 1 out of 10 of MoneyGram’s Canadian sales agents were crooks, FTC says
- Free Cruise Anything But Free
- Hartford Times’ Dear George Columnist Victim Of ID Theft
- Beware Of New Google Phishing Emails That Look REAL Legitimate
- Payback Tips For Handling Telemarketers And Junk Mail Senders
Over the past 20+ years I have played the PCH. Entry-game on many more occasions than I could possibly remember. On these MANY occasions there have been NUMEROUS occasions when I was told such things as: The “Winning-entry” was between myself and one other person…Get my entry in before the other Person and I would be the winner…Yeah right…!!!
There have also been occasions where I supposedly had actually won; BUT, I was expected to “pay for the Item(s)” which I had supposedly “Won”…!?!?
In short for the entire 20+ years in which I have been playing the PCH. Entry game all I have EVER acomplished was, wasting: MY time, and Money.
The bottom line: PCH. Games, Etc. are just one BIG SCAM!!!
I have received 3 e-mails saying it’s from
the Publichers Clearing House. I deleted 2
of them. This morning I had another from
them which said: “Sue, this is unthinkable”
I have not opened it and will probably delete
it since I have a gut feeling it is a scam.
What are your thoughts on this?
Over the past 20-25yrs. I’ve spent 100′s if not thousands of dollars on Publishers Clearing House magazine subscriptions and merchandise thinking that I will have more of a chance of winning than if I didn’t purchase anything. I recieved some lititure in the mail one time years ago teaching people many things on ways to have more of a chance of winning than most people. I don’t remember everything about how play sweepstakes games but I remember one thing very clearly. It said that many times there are two boxes on the front or back of the envelope asking you to check off if you placed an order. Those people checking the box not purchasing anything have there envelope just thrown out and not even opened. Thats one way they weed people out of a sweepstakes. One othger thing this info
My mother recieved a call today froma man saying he was from Publishers Clearing House and she had won money and was required to send money to him. She told him no she would not send money and he got very irate and screamed and hollered at her. She hung up and he called back and left a message that she would be sorry-very sorry. My husband then called the number back and he answered and my husband asked who he was (he wouldn’t tell him) and my husband said that Publishers Clearing House did not work this way and the man told him to F……. off.
Thought you would want to know someone is using Publishing Clearing House as a scam.
Thank you.
Hey Gang!, here’s what to look for! PCH used to put in giant lettering “YOU HAVE WON $10,000,000″, and then in type smaller than regular type they put “if”, and then once again in giant lettering “YOUR NUMBER HAS BEEN SELECTED!”. If you see something like this then send them a letter that is written ON the order form that says in large writing “I am ordering these” and then in small writing put “only if”, and then in large writing put “I am the winner!”, and then in small put “and deduct 100% of the expence of these orders from my winnings only, otherwise cancel these orders. If they are yet sent without winnings then I am not required to pay for them nor return them.”
the odes of winning money from PCH, are very very slim.
HERES IS THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE # 800 645-9242. Give them a call and find out information for your self.
Good luck, and may GOD BLESS YOU ALL.