BBB Jo Ann Deal Fraud Alert: Sweepstakes Scam by Scammers

MONROE, Louisiana (KNOE) – BBB’s Jo Ann Deal was a guest on Good Morning ArkLaMiss on Monday, June 3, to discuss a sweepstakes scam and how to avoid falling victim to it.

According to Deal, a sweepstakes scam is a scam in which you are contacted by someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House or to be a PCH employee. The scammer will ask you to send or wire money, send a prepaid gift card or a Green Dot MoneyPak card. They may also ask you to cash a check and send part of it back to them as payment in order to claim a sweepstakes prize for any reason.

According to Deal, reporters across the country have interviewed numerous couples and individuals who cannot believe they were cheated in a sweepstakes.

To avoid becoming a victim of sweepstakes fraud, the BBB offers the following tips:

• Publisher’s Clearing House will NOT call you
• PCH does not charge any fees for winnings
• PCH will NEVER ask you to purchase gift cards to pay any fees due
• A sweepstakes scam involves being contacted by someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House.

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