ConsumerAffairs.com has reported about a new twist to the old "pay money to receive your winnings" sweepstakes scam. The scammers telephone claiming to be from the "Washington DC Office of Consumer Affairs" and tell victims that they've won the Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes. All you have to do is respond within 24 hours to receive a massive cash prizes.
These people are very professional and convincing. You can call them back at their toll-free number, have the telephone answered by an employee who says that you've reached the Department of Consumer Affairs, and speak to (supposedly) the same person you spoke to the first time, or who left a message on your answering machine.
Note that this ruse violates a number of the Top Signs that Your Win is Really a Sweepstakes Scam:
- You have to pay to receive your prize.
- You are rushed into making a decision (you have to respond within 48 hours to receive your money)
- The notification is from a "government organization."
As much as we all dream of winning big sweepstakes, it is easy to want to believe someone who sounds confident and trustworthy. However, staying smart and checking to see if a win fits the signs of a scam will keep you safe and protect you from being scammed out of your money.
Comments
If you have received a sweeps scam lottery letter does that mean the scammers now have your identy. Should I be worried?
Hello, Diane, great question! The answer is – not really. Usually they just blanket email addresses, regular addresses, and phone numbers with scam attempts – that information is publicly available, and scammers can’t do much with it other than hassle you. It’s the sensitive information like bank account numbers, social security numbers, etc. that are really dangerous.
If you respond to a scam, scammers will oftentimes mark you as an easy target and sell your information on to other scammers, which can be a bigger hassle.
And it’s always a good idea to check your credit report regularly and pay attention to anything that looks like an attempt at ID theft. For more information, read about how to protect yourself from identity theft.
In fact, it’s such a great question that I turned it into an article to help others. Thanks again!
hi
i think this educate peopple alot about the scams. i too learned alot from this. i found it very helping,
thanks
There is a new scam coming out of Canada. The individual calls and says he is from Publishers Clearing house and that the individual has won 1.5 million dollars. He preys on old people. He sends checks that the person is asked to cash, then asks for more money to pay taxes, to include luxury tax. He has scammed my mother out of over $110,000.00. Which is all of her and her husbands life savings. Everyone needs to pay attention, especially when it inolves our parents. If anyone has a comment regarding this please post a reply.
I have been contacted now twice by the same bunch. the 1st was for 5 million now a week later for the 2.5 million. Went along with all his tales an told him I could have his $250 dollard tomorrow an he will be here with my package, of course I am just putting him on as he thinks he as some dumb bunny. I might have been born at nite but not last nite.
The latest scam is allegedly from Coca Cola. Advising that “you” won by Coca-Cola in conjunction with the South African Tobacco Worldwide Promotion, your email was among the 20 Lucky winners who won £800,000.00 each (sic).
I know darn well I did not play a sweepstakes that would pay me in foreign money.
I wish that I could attach the “fake” letter sent wherein they obviously stole the Coca-Cola logo and a picture from an old sweepstakes… If they hadn’t I would not be able to click on it and move it around…
recieved an E-Mail stating I had won 2M on May 2010 publishers clearing house draw. asks for Name, Age,Sex, Occupation,Address Telephone #, Country.
Says is from clearing “house UK”; asks for info to transfer funds to bank account #,
Signed Maruann Carter Contest Department
for Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes
International Program
Q. Is there such an organization? I have a copy of the E-mail which I will send to you if you request it.
No, that’s a scam. You will never need to give your bank account to anyone to receive a real sweepstakes prize. See the Top Warning Signs of Scams for more information.
When it comes to Publisher’s Clearing House “wins,” they have a phone number that you can call just to verify if the wins are real. You can find more information on their website: http://www.pch.com/infocenter/consumeraffairs/sweepsmarts.shtml Good luck!
I beleive my elderly boyfriend is being scammed by a PCH
I received a call from Morgan American Citizens Fargo today telling me that I had won money from PCH 11 months ago and had I been notified. I said no, I had not and asked them if they were a fraud (as if they would say yes) They proceeded to tell me that they would call me tomorrow after investigating my winnings, or perhaps my lack of.
They had my name, address and phone number…they will call tomorrow morning after their investigation.
This sounds like a real SCAM to me…any comments?
It sounds like a scam to me, too, Eileen. If you won from PCH, they’d contact you directly. If they couldn’t reach you after a reasonable amount of time, they’d most likely draw another winner. They wouldn’t involve some bank in the process.
If you want to be sure, though, you can ask PCH directly. There are instructions on how to do so here: Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes FAQ.
Thank you for your input regarding the phone call from the supposed bank that was investigating my winnings.
They called me back and my husband spoke to them and basically told them they were fraudulent. I was not home to hear him read them the riot the act.
So far, no more phone calls, but our local news showed people that had gotten involved in sweepstakes scams, and they lived in the next town approximately 5 miles away.
Eileen, I’m so glad to hear that you weren’t caught by a scam that hit so close to home!
I hate these dam Gameadvance Ads. You have won with
particaition a bill.Buy this and thirteen other items and you win this but wait terms maybe changed at any time.You schmun,as soon as you qualife, terms will
change?Who didn’t see that coming?
Item two when you have to also belong to facebook,twitter,apple, or some other advertising source.I just like to get in, sign up, and move on.
I know the advertiser pay for the sweepstakes.I don’t
Mine reading about the products.If that’s what they
want, call it a contest post a review then ask questions about your product.Require correct answers to the questions before a entry is accepted.
That way contestants are well enformed about the
sponser and may be asked afterwards if they would like to buy now or have a coupon or ads sent to their
home, or set and appointment for a product demo.
ive recently got a e-mail ssaying i won a million dollars from publishers clearing house but they say it is a global lottery drawing and i have to pay a currior to get my money i was leary so i got ahold of publishers clearing house they are using publishers clearing house logos including the prize patrol car it looked likwe any other e-mail i get from publishers clearing house but i never heard of having to pay for your prize money befor so i checked into it there is no such thing i wrote that place and told them i am turningh them in i dont think it will stop them but i want other people to be aware i almost fell for it but i checked with publishers clearing house first so i saved myself some money and heart ache anyone else getting these should beware
So glad to hear that you didn’t fall for the scam, Kim Shively!
Has anyone else received notification that they won the current Sun-Maid movie tickets contest and will receive a code in 3 days, and then not received the code? I have e-mailed them 3 times and faxed them once and received no response. It appears to be a scam, but maybe someone is tampering with my e-mail. What do you think?
Mina, I won and received my tickets, so I don’t think it’s a scam. Maybe you had a spam blocker filter the email? Have you checked your spam filter?
I entered for sweepstakes car/ vacation giveaway at the mall and they called me said I won the vacation (2 night 2 day free airfare to hawaii) and will be entered in for car. Asked me to verify my name/ if I make $800 me & my spouse every 2 weeks ( said they didn’t need proof just taking my word for it) and if I had debit card or CC or checking account ( said they didn’t Need any #’s but they needed to know ) then they said will make follow up call today since who processes is not in( they called me around 7:50 pm). Never entered into sweepstakes but since it was at the mall I did..does it sound like a scam?..
I received a phon call this morning simular to Eileen”s stating the call was from Morgan Fargo. She stated that I had won a large sum of money from a Sweepstakes drawing. Also saying they had been trying to contact me & had done so by mail. I was having trouble understanding her but immediately showered her with lots of questions like what Sweepstakes did I enter & when & how do I know this is not just another scam!? She told me through Publishers Clearing House & my name was drawn 3 months ago. I naturally was very reluctant & stated , “Yeah right, this is just another scam!” She kept reassuring me it was legitimate & it was not going to cost me anything at all for delivery of my cash award. I gave her very little, (probably too much) info. Basically verifying the info they already had along with mine & my spouses occupation & my age. They said they would contact me the next morning for delivery. I contacted PCH. They stated they would not contact winners by Phone or E-mail, only by letter with no cost to winner & suggested when they call back to just hang up. Thank you for the availability of information & for the comments that people are able to leave to insure a “heads up”. Take care & God bless, Vera