$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Publishers Clearing House impersonator scam
Scammers impersonate Publishers Clearing House, telling victims they have won a major prize but must pay fees or buy gift cards to receive it.
“lottery scam”
↑ 72%Key indicators
Usually targetsOlder adults
Often hitsRetirees and seniors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers call victims, often elderly, claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House with news of a big win
2
They build trust by using the victim's name and referencing real PCH promotions
3
Victims are told to send gift cards, wire transfers, or cash to cover taxes and fees before the prize can be delivered
What to do first
Publishers Clearing House never requires payment to claim a prize and their prize patrol visits without prior notice
Related terms
PCH impersonator scamfake sweepstakes phone callPublishers Clearing House fraudLottery and prize scamsPhoneRisingOlder adultsLow-income householdsRetirees and seniorsImmigrants and visa holdersUnited StatesPCH impersonator scamfake sweepstakes phone call
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Andrew, 35, a older adults, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate lottery and prize scams situation while using Phone. Scammers call victims, often elderly, claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House with news of a big win
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They build trust by using the victim's name and referencing real PCH promotions
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims are told to send gift cards, wire transfers, or cash to cover taxes and fees before the prize can be delivered
The outcome
Andrew realized something was wrong when caller claims you won a pch prize but must pay fees to claim it. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Publishers Clearing House never requires payment to claim a prize and their prize patrol visits without prior notice Andrew's experience shows why caller claims you won a pch prize but must pay fees to claim it and you are asked to buy gift cards or send a wire transfer to receive your winnings are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Caller claims you won a PCH prize but must pay fees to claim it
- You are asked to buy gift cards or send a wire transfer to receive your winnings
- Caller says a PCH prize patrol will visit your home after you pay the fees
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Publishers Clearing House never requires payment to claim a prize and their prize patrol visits without prior notice
- ✓Hang up and verify by contacting PCH directly through their official website pch.com
- ✓Report PCH impersonation scams to the FTC and your local police department
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Publishers Clearing House's official website maintains a scam alert page documenting widespread fraudulent use of their brand name
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Publishers Clearing House never requires payment to claim a prize and their prize patrol visits without prior notice
- ✓Hang up and verify by contacting PCH directly through their official website pch.com
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Publishers Clearing House's official website maintains a scam alert page documenting widespread fraudulent use of their brand name
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Older adults, Low-income households
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Phone — Lottery and prize scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Older adults are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Publishers Clearing House's official website maintains a scam alert page documenting widespread fraudulent use of their brand name
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about publishers clearing house impersonator scam
How does the publishers clearing house impersonator scam work?+
Scammers call victims, often elderly, claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House with news of a big win They build trust by using the victim's name and referencing real PCH promotions Victims are told to send gift cards, wire transfers, or cash to cover taxes and fees before the prize can be delivered
What are the warning signs of publishers clearing house impersonator scam?+
Caller claims you won a PCH prize but must pay fees to claim it You are asked to buy gift cards or send a wire transfer to receive your winnings Caller says a PCH prize patrol will visit your home after you pay the fees
What should I do if I encounter publishers clearing house impersonator scam?+
Publishers Clearing House never requires payment to claim a prize and their prize patrol visits without prior notice Hang up and verify by contacting PCH directly through their official website pch.com Report PCH impersonation scams to the FTC and your local police department
Who is most at risk for publishers clearing house impersonator scam?+
This scam primarily targets Older adults, Low-income households. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Phone.
Is publishers clearing house impersonator scam on the rise?+
Publishers Clearing House impersonator scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.