Oklahoma State Senator Warns Of Publisher's Clearing House Scam After Receiving Fake Sweepstakes Letter

Another sweepstakes scam is circulating in mailboxes across Green Country and this time one of the letters landed in an Oklahoma State Senator's mailbox.

Oklahoma State Senator John Haste of Broken Arrow was opening his mail recently and found a letter that looked like it was from Publisher's Clearing House.

"The check-in there looks very legit and so going through that it's like, no, this is something we need to talk about to raise that awareness that hey you don't need to get sucked into this," said Sen. Haste.

The letter claimed Haste was the lucky winner of $2.5 million and included a check to cover nearly $5,000 in what the letter said would be expected fees and taxes. The letter instructs him to call the number listed to claim his winnings before cashing the check.

Haste automatically knew it was a scam but worried someone out there might fall for it.

"Okay, someone could see this and think this is legit. And okay, like what do I need to do to get this money? I thought of my mother, who died two years ago, but I know a couple of times she almost got caught up in some of this," said Haste.

According to the Better Business Bureau, scams claiming you've won the Publisher's Clearing House are common and make these recommendations:

How to avoid sweepstakes scams

1. Remember, you have to play to win. If you’re being told you won a sweepstakes but don’t remember entering one, that’s a red flag for a scam. If you do enter sweepstakes, keep track of your entries so you can confirm any winning notifications you may receive. Read the fine print and rules for the sweepstakes you enter to know how prizes are claimed and how long the sweepstakes lasts.
2. Never pay upfront fees to claim your prizes. No legitimate sweepstakes company will ask you to pay fees to receive your prizes. Any fees that claim to be for taxes, shipping and handling, or processing are fake and a red flag. If someone is asking you to pay money to claim a prize, stop communicating with them. Publishers Clearing House has shared that their winners will never have to pay to claim a prize.
3. Don’t get caught up in the excitement. Sweepstakes scammers will try their best to get you very excited about your winnings, but don’t let that cloud your judgment. Take a step back and consider what the person is telling you – if you’re being told to pay money or asked to hand over personal or financial information for a sweepstakes you never entered, stop communicating with the caller.
4. If you’re being asked to pay with a gift card, it’s likely a scam. Paying with a gift card is one of the most common tactics scammers use to steal money from people. If you’re given urgent, specific instructions from a stranger on the phone about what type of gift card to buy, where to buy it, and how much money to put on the gift card, hang up, and do not proceed with the purchase.

You can contact PCH customer service at 1-800-566-4724 to verify your win.