Wallingford, CT – January 19, 2012 – Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes envelopes began hitting mailboxes this week. This means scam phone calls and fake mails are soon to follow.
The scams that accompany the famous sweepstakes involve a phone call or lookalike letter claiming a big check awaits the recipient.
The Scam: A caller tells the person answering the phone that he/she has won a prize from Publishers Clearing House. However, to claim it, the person must pay a fee to retrieve the money they have allegedly won.
Publishers Clearing House awards its prizes by a personal visit to winners' homes and does not charge them to collect their prize.
What to do: If you receive any phone calls or emails from Publishers Clearing House indicating you have won a prize and need to send money - don't do it!
Contact Publishers Clearing House directly for information at 1-800-459-4724, Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST or visit their website at
http://www.pch.com.
Learn more about emerging scams or to report a scam in your area, visit to
http://ct.bbb.org/scam-source.
Founded in 1928, Connecticut BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB helps consumers find and recommend businesses, brands and charities they can trust, offers objective advice and a wide range of education on topics affecting marketplace trust.
BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses. Today, 116 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than three million local and national businesses and charities. For more advice on finding companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org/.
