Latest news with #PublishersClearingHouse
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
A Disabled Veteran Was Getting Publishers Clearing House Prize Money. Then the Company Went Bust.
This February, Tamar and Matthew Veatch were expecting their annual six-figure Publishers Clearing House 'forever' prize payment to arrive, as it had for the past four years. It never came. The couple, both disabled Army veterans from Cottage Grove, Ore., reached out to the sweepstakes operator and were told that the payment, just under $200,000 after tax, for Tamar's annuity prize would resume in July, on a quarterly schedule. Then, in April, PCH filed for bankruptcy, listing 10 prize winners among its largest unsecured creditors, court records show. Eight of those were owed more than $2 million each, though their names were redacted for privacy. And the promised July payment to Tamar failed to arrive.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2 Ohio women $10K richer after winning Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes
OHIO (WJW) – Two Northeast Ohioans are $10,000 richer after winning a sweepstakes with the Publishers Clearing House. According to a press release from the Publishers Clearing House, Rita Lawry of Brook Park wasn't even home when the PCH Prize Patrol showed up at her front door, but her son, Sean, was. Lemonade for the Brave: Stand raising money for Lorain officers ambushed When the Prize Patrol showed up at Lawry's home, there were balloons, champagne, and of course, the big check. When Lawry was FaceTimed by her show, she was excited to hear the great news. 'Rita has been a regular player on the PCH+ app, especially since suffering a stroke earlier this year,' the release said. 'When she arrived back in Ohio, Rita had a $10,000 check waiting for her, along with flowers, swag, champagne, and a whole lot of excitement.' Marion Jackson of Elyria was also recently surprised with a $10,000 check from PCH. The longtime healthcare worker and devoted mom was on hold with a patient when she stepped outside and instantly recognized the signature PCH surprise. Superman statue unveiled in downtown Clevelan According to the release, Marion is a longtime PCH+ player. She plans to use the prize money to 'pay off bills and start saving for her 60th birthday trip next year.' Click here for more details about the Publishers Clearing House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Wall Street Journal
20-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Online Casino Operator Wins Auction for Publishers Clearing House
Publishers Clearing House, the direct-to-consumer marketing company known for its Prize Patrol sweepstakes, found a new owner who plans to revive the classic brand that went bankrupt after government scrutiny and a changing retail landscape. ARB Interactive, the company behind online Modo Casino, emerged as the winning bidder in a recent bankruptcy auction for the assets of Publishers Clearing House.
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.
