Latest news with #PublishersClearingHouse
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ohio woman, 76, swindled out of $89K after scammer claimed she'd won $3M — but she had to pay the taxes first
A 76‑year‑old Franklin County, Ohio woman thought she'd hit the jackpot when an unexpected caller told her she'd won $3 million in a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. All she needed to do, he said, was pay taxes on her winnings, according to The Columbus Dispatch. So, she mailed more than $89,000 in 'tax' checks to an Arkansas address before realizing the prize was a scam. Detectives traced the money to a 68-year-old man in Little Rock, Arkansas who was arrested on a felony‑theft warrant and remains in an Arkansas jail waiting to be extradited. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Scams like this are increasingly common because the scammers are smart and know how to convince you that they're from legitimate companies. They often use pressure or fear tactics to keep you on the hook. But understanding how these scams work — and how to protect yourself — can be key as fraud attempts grow. Investigators say the fraudster posed as a sweepstakes employee, phoning the victim in March and insisting the windfall couldn't be released until upfront taxes were paid — an approach straight out of the classic prize‑scam playbook. Scammers often add pressure by invoking trusted names — like Publishers Clearing House — claiming official oversight and urging victims to 'act now' before the offer expires, says the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They may direct targets to wire money, send gift cards or — in this case — mail checks to out‑of‑state addresses that are hard to trace. Con‑artists may also spoof caller ID so the number looks like it comes from Publishers Clearing House or even a government agency. Or, they might mail official‑looking letters, complete with fake seals or phony tax forms to build trust. Once the victim pays the first fee, the scammer often invents new hurdles — customs duties, courier charges or even 'anti‑terror compliance' certifications to milk the victim for even more payments. The FTC notes three tell‑tale signs of prize and sweepstake scams: Real prizes never require payment Odds of winning can't be boosted by a fee No legitimate contest needs your banking or Social Security numbers. Fraud like this is increasingly common, especially for seniors, who may be lonely, less tech-savvy or less aware of new scam techniques. According to the FTC, Americans over the age of 70 lose more per scam than any other age range. But young people fall for scams more often, so people of all ages need to know how to spot these scams. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs According to the FTC, genuine sweepstakes are free and random. Any request for cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency or personal data is a red flag. If a stranger contacts you about a prize, look the company up yourself — using a verified phone number or website — to verify the company is real. Never rely on numbers or links that the caller or an email provides. If you've paid already, the quicker you act, the better. Report the transaction to your bank or card issuer, file a complaint at and contact your state attorney general. If the scammer contacted you by mail, notify the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The faster you report the scam, the more likely you are to get some of your funds back. If personal data was shared, visit for recovery steps. Spreading the word to friends and relatives — especially older family members — can prevent the next would‑be winner from becoming the next victim. A final reminder: Unsolicited prize calls, emails or brochures in the mail are almost always too good to be true. The safest response is to hang up, delete or recycle — before the only thing you're left holding is an empty checkbook. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Publishers Clearing House issuing consumer refunds worth $18.5M after FTC finds it used ‘deceptive' practices
Maybe you've seen the eye-catching sweepstakes ads and commercials where regular folks are holding massive checks from Publishers Clearing House. And maybe seeing those huge amounts made you want to enter for your own big chance at winning. But while Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is sending checks, it's not to sweepstakes winners. PCH will send a grand total of $18.5 million to 281,724 recipients as part of a refund to consumers. The company settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and agreed to pay the money because of accusations that it made misleading claims to the public. What exactly was PCH accused of misleading consumers about and what will happen to the company? Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The FTC complaint against Publishers Clearing House alleges that the company was targeting lower-income and older consumers and misleading them into believing either that they can't enter their sweepstakes without purchasing a product or that entrants could increase their chances of winning by buying these products. What's more, the FTC complaint also noted that PCH added shipping and handling fees that were deceptive and 'misrepresented that ordering was 'risk-free,' even though consumers who wanted refunds had to return products at their own expense.' The company also allegedly sent emails with subject lines that were deceptive and designed to make it look like it was related to "official documents." Consumers entitled to the payout are those who clicked on these 'deceptive' emails and who purchased a product from the company. While there is no clear timeline on when checks should arrive, the FTC encourages consumers to cash them within 90 days. Earlier in April, PCH filed for bankruptcy. It entered into proceedings with around $490,000 in cash and around $40 million in debts to its vendors, employees, landlords and service providers. PCH still owes about $1.8 million to current prize winners and about $26 million over the next 60 years to those who won lifetime prizes. Back in 2018, the company earned about $879 million, but it started losing significant money soon after partly due to a shift in consumer preferences to online shopping that escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has since scaled back on its print marketing efforts. Beginning in 2024, PCH earns revenue from digital advertising on free-to-play online games that offer consumers a chance to win cash prizes. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Sadly, Publishers Clearing House isn't the only company that has recently been accused of misleading consumers. The California Attorney General sued ExxonMobil for allegedly deceiving Californians for 50 years. The company is the largest producer of single-use plastics in the world and the California Department of Justice alleges that the company has published misleading statements and slick marketing materials promising recycling would address the amount of plastic waste it produced. Burger King is another company under similar scrutiny. A class action lawsuit filed in March 2023 claimed Burger King misled customers through its ads of the Whopper. The lawsuit alleges the ads made it seem that the burgers contained 35% more meat than is actually in the product. The fast food chain tried to dismiss the lawsuit, but a federal judge denied the motion on May 5, allowing the lawsuit to move forward. If you believe you've been misled by a company, your first step is to contact the company yourself, keeping track of all communication. In an ideal situation, you can try to resolve the issue directly. Provide any proof or documentation to back up your claims of exactly how you've been misled. If you need to escalate the matter, many states have consumer protection agencies that may be able to help. Many of these can help you with investigating complaints and mediation. Keep in mind, you may not be the only one with this complaint. You can also file a complaint directly to the FTC, as it collects any information about unfair or deceptive practices. The data can be used to help take action against the business if necessary. You can file a complaint at and set up a system to track any similar complaints against the company in the news. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania duo arrested for running ‘Publishers Clearing House' scam
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania couple is facing charges after they allegedly tried to scam a Cambria County woman out of $10,000 by pretending to offer her a prize through the Publishers Clearing House. Gregg Kerr, 31, and Shantie Brady, 31, both of York, are behind bars after they were arrested for running a scam, according to a criminal complaint. On May 14, Pennsylvania State Police were informed of an ongoing scam taking place in Ebensburg Borough. A victim had contacted 911 earlier that day and said she believed she had been the victim of a scam for the last several days. According to the complaint, the victim had been told she had won $8.5 million from the Publishers Clearing House and that to collect the prize, she would need to follow specific instructions. The victim said a man named 'Bill Rogan' told her to place $10,000 in an unaddressed box, tape it shut, and then leave it on the balcony of her apartment. Jefferson County teens charged after gun and dirt bike stolen, cars broken into Police hid in a nearby home and waited for someone to arrive at the home to try and take the money. Whilst police were waiting, a 2017 silver Mercedes-Benz arrived in the area, and both Kerr and Brady were inside. Kerr allegedly got out of the vehicle and retrieved the box. At this point, officers intervened and arrested both Kerr and Brady. Police noted that Kerr and Brady brought three children with them when they tried to collect the money. Both are being kept in the Cambria County Prison with bail set at 10% of $500,000. They are facing charges of theft by deception, loitering and prowling, receiving stolen property and three charges of endangering the welfare of children. Preliminary hearings for both are set for May 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Iconic brand proposes selling assets in Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Business Iconic brand proposes selling assets in Chapter 11 bankruptcy Have you ever bought a Mega Millions or Powerball ticket? Even if you're not a gambler per se, when the lottery jackpots reach historic amounts, people who don't normally play come out in droves. Who doesn't want a chance to get rich quick? Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter That's also what companies like American Family Publisher and Publishers Clearing House (PCH) promised. Publishers Clearing House was founded in 1953 as a direct-mail company that sold magazine subscriptions. Anyone who bought a magazine subscription was automatically entered into the company's sweepstakes. People who didn't purchase magazines could also fill out a form for an entry (thereby making the contest a sweepstakes rather than a lottery). Some of the prizes were substantial: cars, vacations, and cash awards of up to $1 million. Over the years, the company paid out more than $618 million worth of prizes and was also known for being philanthropic, donating tens of millions to various veterans' causes and children's hospitals. The Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol was known to show up at an unsuspecting winner's house with a large check in hand. Image Source: Getty Images As the magazine industry tanked, so did the sweepstakes companies Magazine publishers loved PCH because the company helped them get massive numbers of subscribers. The more subscribers a magazine had, the more the publisher could charge for ads. Of course, the magazine world is not what it used to be. Hundreds of magazines have stopped publishing print editions or gone out of business altogether over the last dozen years. Advertising revenue for print publications dropped from a peak of around $20 billion in 2007 to just $2.3 billion in 2023, according to Bloomberg. That's a decline of more than 70%. Related: Iconic overnight riches company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy It makes sense that a business built on selling magazine subscriptions would have some trouble staying afloat. Even though PCH expanded into online games and e-commerce, it was not enough to sustain the business. In 2023, the company was hurt further after losing a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission. PCH paid $18.5 million to customers who believed they were harmed by the company's misleading claims. Publishers Clearing House bankruptcy jeopardizes consumer data On May 1, Publishers Clearing House LLC filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking court approval to sell all or substantially all of its assets as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Publishers Clearing House proposed an auction as a way to preserve its intellectual property and perhaps save the brand while maximizing the amount creditors can recover. Related: Bankrupt consumer brand's business puts consumers at risk PCH is working with the investment bank SSG Advisors, and while the company doesn't yet have a lead buyer that will set the starting bid for others (a concept also known as a "stalking horse bidder"), it hopes to soon. In order to keep the business running for the time being, PCH got a loan from Prestige Capital Finance, LLC, which also has first claim to any PCH assets. PCH assets include intellectual property, an extensive customer database, and brand recognition. Also at issue with the sale of PCH: What to do with customer data. Over the years, the company has collected personal data from millions of people, so the company has requested a consumer privacy ombudsman be involved in the process. The ombudsman will ensure customer data is handled legally and ethically during the sale process. The company and potential bidders must also contend with how to pay out current obligations to sweepstakes winners - some cash prizes are doled out over decades. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection on April 9; the bidding deadline is set for June 13 and auction is scheduled for June 17. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FTC refunds customers in Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes case
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that over $18 million will be refunded to more than 281,724 Publishers Clearing House (PHC) customers. AG Campbell releases guide protecting Massachusetts homebuyers from discrimination According to the FTC complaint, Publishers Clearing House deceived consumers about their sweepstakes contests when the company used misleading language and designs on its website and email marketing that tricked consumers into believing they had to buy things on the PCH website to enter a sweepstakes, or that doing so would improve their chances of winning a prize. As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, Publishers Clearing House has agreed to a proposed court order that will require it to pay $18.5 million to consumers who spent money and make substantial changes to how it conducts business online. Not every PCH customer is eligible for a refund. Only people who received and clicked on one of the PCH emails that the FTC stated were deceptive and then ordered a product will get a refund. Visit for questions about the refund process, or call the refund administrator at 1-888-516-0774. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
