During the 1980s, Publisher’s Clearing House was one of the most powerful magazine advertisers. The company drove advertising rates and subscription fees. In the early 1990s, it was the subject of legal actions. The company eventually settled with all 50 states.
Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is a marketing company that markets merchandise, prize-based games, and magazine subscriptions. The company has been around for over 50 years. It reaches an increasingly elderly customer base through both direct mail and online outreach. It is a sponsor of sweepstakes.
Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes offer prizes that range from a dollar Amazon gift card to a $10 million grand prize. However, this company is also known for its imposter scams. These scams involve phone calls, email, and social media. Using an imposter’s name, these scammers will contact you and ask you to send money or other confidential information in order to claim a prize.
The scams can also involve phony congratulation letters. Scammers will ask for personal or sensitive information, such as bank account information or card loading fees. They may even claim that they are a Publishers Clearing House employee. These imposters use variations of the PCH script to convince victims that they are actually legitimate.
Some scams even ask victims to send fake checks to cash or to cover a wire fee. These checks are fraudulent and will not clear the bank. If you receive a check from a publisher you believe to be a scam, it is important to report the incident immediately.