We want you to know of reports we have received detailing fraudulent e-mails pretending to be from the real Publishers Clearing House and our famous web site pch.com. These bogus e-mails tell consumers they have won a major prize with Publishers Clearing House and seek personal financial information such as bank account, checking account or social security numbers.  Some may request payment for some form of bogus fee, tax or processing cost.  

We know how important it is to protect your identity from unlawful use, and shield your accounts from fraud and unauthorized access. With that in mind, we want to remind you of important consumer education information about our famous sweepstakes:

• Publishers Clearing House (“PCH”) does NOT send e-mails notifying consumers that they have won a major prize. If you win a major prize in our sweepstakes our Prize Patrol will contact you in person. For smaller prizes, winners are notified by overnight delivery services (FedEx, UPS) or certified mail.
• PCH does NOT send e-mails requesting personal banking or financial information in connection with a prize. If you receive an email 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 have received a suspicious e-mail that bears our name or logo, please forward it to our fraud reporting mailbox, abuse@pch.com, and contact us immediately at our toll free number (800) 645 - 9242. We will be happy to confirm whether the communication is from the real Publishers Clearing House.

To learn more about how to protect your accounts and personal information from fraudulent emails posing as legitimate companies,  visit “Onguard OnLine” a joint venture of the Federal Trade Commission, and numerous public and private partners intended to help consumers avoid Internet and other electronic fraud.