866-681-0085

Publishers clearing house.  This guy says I won 2.8 million and a new Mercedes Benz.  He asked if my name was Mary.  And did I get notifications from them.  I got letters to renew Family Circle which I did not buy.  He said he’d send me email and asked for my email addy.  Nothing!

Who was it?  I got one too.

I got another call from this number, previously described as Publishers' Clearing House.  Today he called and caller ID said "Federal Express."  Same number, left message stating they have a package for me.  I called back and they asked me to leave a name and phone number, which i did not.  I'm getting annoyed.  Anyone?

rec'd same call as Dolly, said was from Publishers Clearing House, gave me a/c# and ID # for Fed Reserve Bk of NY so I could verify funds.  Then told me that funds were from Mega Millions not PCH.  ??

Person called, claimed to be pch agent, stated that I was sweepstakes prizewinner and started to troll for information after telling me a couple bogus "claim" & "check" numbers that he told me to write down. Asked for my bank name, stated he would be calling back to give me prize handover details. Supposedly won a car, 2 million dollars, & $5000 a week for life - right (LOL)! Claimed to have to set up date to deliver prize(s) also supposedly co-ordinate  with FBI agent to allow for collection of taxes or to guard check or some such nonsense. Also tried to interest myself in getting part of money in cash in case I "wanted to help our friends or neighbors, cause that's a lot of money you'll be getting, you know". When the given phone  (866)# was called back "agent Miller" was not at his desk and someone named "Frank" took the call and seemed to have trouble associating returned call with before stated details and seemed vague about everything(???).

Called pch next day and verified it was all bogus. They do not contact winners by phone and do not tell them to "do not contact or tell anyone" about their "good fortune".  Scammers should probably verify potential victims ever entered chosen sweepstakes prior to selecting them as well! Whole thing sounded like a poorly written tv cops show when "Frank" started asking about if I had a criminal record and if I had ever been in jail and for what! Weird & invasive personal questions for people to ask – who are supposedly just awarding sweepstakes prizes, I’d think.

This whole episode, on reflection, now seems like it could also potentially be a clumsy attempt by someone at "swatting" innocent people by making false accusations of illegal activities and turning in false reports to cause law enforcement (re)actions. Or it might be some screwy attempt by a criminal defendant or convict to get a sentence reduction or dismissal of charges by falsely turning someone else in, as well. Grudge revenge or some such idiocy but highly uncomfortable for the subject of the misinformation. Whatever the cause, the whole episode is a fraud and total travesty.