DON’T FALL FOR IT!
Scam Uses Publishers Clearinghouse Name

5/14/2009

Lexington, KY - With all the lotto and sweepstakes scam warnings we've told you about, you'd think that might help stop the likelihood of people falling for them…but the con artists don’t give up. There is a new twist.

Don't you wish YOU were being visited by the Publishers Clearinghouse Prize Patrol?

It's a household name everyone's heard of….but so have the con artists, and they are taking advantage of that to try to scam you.

Consumers tell your Better Business Bureau that letters and real-looking checks are landing in their mailboxes that say they are from Publishers Clearinghouse.

They carry the PCH logo. They say that you were chosen to win some large sum of money and that a check has been enclosed for you to use to pay your fees. One of these scam letters even falsely carries an outdated BBB logo in an effort to gain credibility.

How do you know if it's real or a scam? If you are at any point asked to pay a fee. The checks included are counterfeit. If you cash it and wire the money to the con artist, it will eventually bounce, leaving you to pay back the bank.

It's illegal to require you to pay a fee to collect your prize. If you get one of these mailings, don't fall for it!

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Be a "Don’t Fall for It!" informant! If you have something to share you believe may be a fraudulent offer or scam, please let the BBB know! Call us at (859) 259-1008 or toll-free, 1-800-866-6668, or email us at info@bluegrass.bbb.org.