FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: APRIL 18, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE SCAM
Publishers Clearing House has gotten many reports about scammers using the Publishers Clearing House name to deceive people. Scammers call, claiming you’ve won the sweepstakes, but to collect your prize you need to send money to pay for so-called fees and taxes.
According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, paying to collect a prize is a scam. Scammers will ask you to send money by Western Union or MoneyGram, or by getting a prepaid card or gift card because it’s nearly impossible to trace.
If you think you’ve won a prize, Consumer Affairs advises:
· Publishers Clearing House will never ask you to pay a fee to collect a prize. In fact, no legitimate prize promoter will ever charge you to win.
· If anyone calls asking you to pay for a prize, hang up.
· Never send money to collect a prize. It’s a scam.
· Publishers Clearing House doesn’t call ahead to say you’ve won.
· Check the Publishers Clearing House’s fraud protection page, https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection-2/
Consumer Affairs can be reached at 845-340-3260.