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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.
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Carl Hastings
April 10, 2023
Not info that I could not have figured out....but very sound info here--sometimes we need outside confirmation and the logic behind the thinking. I liked this announcement--it provided both info to watch out for and the logic behind it.
Good Work! And it is understandable I think for people at most levels of education.
Sue
April 10, 2023
I have had my phone calls blocked for unknown callers for quite a while, so they have now started texting me through my email every day but I block and never open link. I get about twenty emails a day. It’s frustrating but it only takes a couple of clicks so I’ll just keep doing it. I’m not an easy person to get sucked into their madness. Maybe more should be done to stop the texting emails by the government. Very annoying!
Ralph
April 11, 2023
In reply to I have had my phone calls… by Sue
For what it's worth, I created a separate email address which I use for all things that resemble this kind of scam or emails I'm not sure of. This way I don't have my regular email box cluttered.
Matthew Dillion
April 10, 2023
These people are criminals and I keep unsubscribing from their email without success. How can I stop these worthless emails being sent to me?
Phil
April 11, 2023
In reply to These people are criminals… by Matthew Dillion
By clicking the "unsubscribe" button you're confirming it's an active email account. Better to use the block or spam button in your email account.
A. Gerrish
April 17, 2023
In reply to By clicking the "unsubscribe… by Phil
Sound advice! Thank you Phil. I will definitely be doing it this way then clicking their unsubscribe button.
Steve , retired
April 10, 2023
I have been bombarded with "You have won a lottery " calls on the phone. I hang up immediately. You cannot trust anyone. Stay vigilant and watch out. Good Luck
Victor Robinson
April 10, 2023
They got me
Ralph
April 10, 2023
Create a separate email address for use at anytime you're not sure of who you're giving it to. You can check it whenever you want and not clutter up you're regular email box.
Emmett Williams
April 24, 2023
In reply to Create a separate email… by Ralph
I use hide my email it sends an email address that is rerouted through apple to my email the third party never sees my real email address.
Diana
April 10, 2023
I wonder if PCH hasn't gone astray with its win-a-prize "Searching" strategy? Isn't this just another way of collecting our information from these third-party searches just to "qualify" for each prize?
A Person
May 02, 2023
In reply to I wonder if PCH hasn't gone… by Diana
Yes, PCH has definitely lost it's way. May 1, 2023. Beware of emails. They are cartoonish. Good luck trying to block calls and messages. Best bet is to also file a complaint with the Attorney General Larose in Columbus, Ohio.
Kris
April 10, 2023
I recently had to help my mom with this. If you or anyone pays for these prizes go back to read the terms. You likely signed up for a 'free trial' that will charge you every 30 days. The terms and conditions will have a phone number listed. Call it to cancel your subscription. You'll see a name listed too, they're usually health apps that you're signing up for under the guise of 'winning'.
Always read the terms first. If you're still sceptical copy the website url, open chrome and paste it in. You'll often find that it's a fake site.
Martin
April 11, 2023
In reply to I recently had to help my… by Kris
Yes I about let’s see
I about 83 calls a day from people say I won but it alway nothing come of it PCH away says I won all these prizes but too ship the item and say they say o. It’s too me o by the way it’s 2dollars to ship it the trick is they PCH ask for a credit card num. and they take money off you card and you never get items just to get you card num. to try and your money later and that’s breaking the law
sara villa
April 11, 2023
there a big scam with Costco and Walmart saying come and collect your prize - the scam is so transparent, I just wish that the Federal government could do something by means of huge fines and community service for people who are con artists, something that if they do get caught that it really hits them financially or get serious jail time to make them think twice about fraudulent activity.
Alanna Mozzer
April 11, 2023
My experience with sweepstakes has been that if they are real they will never ask for money or charge anything. Only a lottery is allowed to charge for tickets, and in the United States only governments run lotteries these days. A raffle may also charge for tickets but those are usually a charitable fund raiser of some sort. My experience has been that if you do win something you are usually notified by letter.
Robert L. Barksdale
April 11, 2023
I got hit with this scam twice in the month of March. I recognized it immediately as a scam as soon as the person speaking said I had to pay $35,000.00 in advance to the
IRS to receive the prize. I immediately shut it down and have not heard from them since. Both times I had supposedly won multimillion dollars prizes from Publishing Clearing House.
Diane Campanile
May 01, 2023
Mortified I got scammed this morning. Reported the phishing email and notified bank.
Kohls ad used!
Virginia Simer
May 02, 2023
I was playing an online game, Bingo Master, and racking up a lot of money that would be paid to me by PayPal, through a company called Yodlee. They asked for a lot of information and, like a dummy, I agreed. Even though they were a PayPal partner I didn't feel right and contacted PayPal who IMMEDIATELY replied that Yodlee had nothing to do with them and not to give them ANY INFORMATION. I began checking my accounts and sure enough under EFT's was their name. I was able to revoke my approval instantly. I have contacted other account holders and ensured they know not to give them any information or money. It is true - IF IT SEEMS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS...
Mary Ann Sheld…
May 04, 2023
I appreciate the warning because I've recently received such calls.
Ernie Magaha
May 10, 2023
Delta Airlines 18nos.net stated i won unlimited Delta unlimited travel card for taking survey. pay $9.97 shipping...I almost went for it. Probably a scam. If too good to be true probably is a scam
Eric Dixon
May 17, 2023
I'm pretty sure I have been targeted for a "Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes" scam, and may have made a big mistake ! "HELP" !!!
