From the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office:
SCAM ALERT – RECENTLY AN ELEDERLY PERSON FROM ROGERS COUNTY WAS SCAMMED OUT OF $17,000 DOLLARS FROM A PUBLISHER CLEARING HOUSE SCAM.
PLEASE PRINT THIS OUT OR TALK TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
Publishers Clearing House wants to warn you about scam artists sending out real looking checks in an attempt to get you to send money! Here’s how the “Fake Check” scam works. Scam artists send you an official looking letter claiming to be from a legitimate sweepstakes. The letter may illegally use the name of a well known company like Publishers Clearing House or a sound alike name in an attempt to build trust. (These offers are not affiliated in any way with Publishers Clearing House!) The letter encloses a real looking check that may appear legitimate. Even your bank may be fooled.
What’s the catch? Even though the check is bogus, if you deposit the check the money may be available to you for a short time. Under federal law, banks make the funds you deposit available quickly – usually within one to five days, depending on the type of check. But just because you can withdraw the money doesn’t mean the check is good. It can take weeks for the forgery to be discovered and the check to bounce. And that’s what the scam artists are counting on. They hope that if you believe the check is real you’ll be willing to send them money back.
The scammers may tell you that you were given “an advance on a sweepstakes prize” and that some “fee, tax or additional payment” is necessary. You may be told you are being paid the “first installment” on millions and that “you will receive more after wiring a portion back.” Whatever the set-up in the scam offers, the results are the same. If you send money back you’ll be out twice. YOU are responsible for checks or monies deposited into your account. When a check or money order bounces YOU will owe the bank the money you withdrew and the scammer will have the additional money sent in his/her pocket!
A legitimate sweepstakes will NEVER ask you to send money to enter a sweepstakes, claim a prize, or to pay a fee, tax or deposit. Consumers should always remember that at Publishers Clearing House no payment is ever necessary to claim a prize. If someone contacts you about winning a prize and requests that you send money back in return for any reason – STOP – you have not heard from the real Publishers Clearing House. There is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire money back. This is not the way legitimate sweepstakes work! If you believe you are the victim of a “Fake Check Scam” using the Publishers Clearing House name or logo, please contact us immediately by calling our toll free number at 1-800-392-4190. Consumers are also advised to contact their local consumer protection officials or the National Fraud Center at www.fraud.org. No matter whether mail, phone or email, remember NO PURCHASE NECESSARY…The only sweepstakes rule you need to know!
Beware of Fraudulent Emails
Publishers Clearing House (PCH) does NOT send e-mails notifying consumers that they have won a major prize (of $1,000.00 or more). If you win a major prize in our sweepstakes our PCH Prize Patrol will contact you in person. For smaller prizes (less than $1,000.00), winners are notified by overnight delivery services (FedEx, UPS), certified mail, or email in the case on online giveaways.
• PCH does NOT send e-mails requesting personal banking or financial information in connection with a prize. If you receive an e-mail seeking your bank account, checking account, social security number or other financial information, BEWARE.
• If you are contacted about winning a prize but are required to buy something, pay a fee, tax or processing cost, STOP. You have not heard from a legitimate sweepstakes and it’s certainly not from the “real” Publishers Clearing House!
If you believe you are the victim of a “Fake Check Scam” using the Publishers Clearing House name or logo, please contact us immediately by calling our toll free number at 1-800-645-9242. Consumers are also advised to contact their local consumer protection officials or the National Fraud Center at www.fraud.org. No matter whether mail, phone or email, remember NO PURCHASE NECESSARY… The only sweepstake rule you need to know!
Beware of Scam Calls
Publishers Clearing House (PCH) does NOT make or authorize outgoing calls to consumers to sell merchandise or magazines, or to solicit contest entries. Our major winners are notified by mail or in person (at our option) and we never phone ahead to disclose that someone has won a major prize. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House and are asked to send money, pay a fee or pre-pay taxes to enter, collect or claim a sweepstakes prize – STOP – you have not heard from the “real” Publishers Clearing House. The call you received was most likely from a fraudulent sweepstakes scam operation. At Publishers Clearing House the winning is always free.
If you believe you are the victim of a “Fake Check Scam” using the Publishers Clearing House name or logo, please contact us immediately by calling our toll free number at 1-800-645-9242. Consumers are also advised to contact their local consumer protection officials or the National Fraud Center at www.fraud.org. No matter whether mail, phone or email, remember NO PURCHASE NECESSARY … The only sweepstake rule you need to know!
