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Beltrami County resident falls victim to Publishers Clearing House scam

BEMIDJI, MN: The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is investigating incidents of fraud and attempts to be defrauded by people claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House. In one incident the resident wire transferred a good sum of money to the perpetrators. Publisher's Clearing House WILL NOT CALL YOU prior to you be awarded ANY type of prize from them. If you get a call claiming they represent Publisher's Clearing House it is a SCAM. Below is information provided by Publisher's Clearing House regarding how they award prizes and remember if it sounds too good to be true-it probably is!

If you feel that you have been victimized by a scam or fraud please report it to your local law enforcement agency immediately.

Ernie Beitel, Sheriff

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office

613 Minnesota Ave. NW.

Bemidji, MN 56601

ernie.beitel@co.beltrami.mn.us

FROM PUBLISHER'S CLEARING HOUSE

If you are ever contacted by someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House (PCH), or claiming to be one of our employees, and asked to send or wire money (for any reason whatsoever, including taxes); or send a pre-paid gift card or Green Dot Money-Pak card in order to claim a sweepstakes prize – DON'T! It's a SCAM. If you are sent a check, told it's a partial prize award, and asked to cash it and send a portion back to claim the full prize award, DON'T. The check is fake, but the SCAM is real!

Publishers Clearing House does not operate this way and would NEVER ask for money to claim a prize. PCH employees would never contact you personally or in advance to notify you of a prize award. Our Super-Prize is presented just the way you see it in our popular TV commercials, "live and in person" by our Prize Patrol, with balloons, bouquet of roses and check in hand – – and with no advance notification!

Here are a few tips to help you identify which offers are real and which are scans:

Tip 1: Beware of Fake Check Scams

If you receive a check claiming to be for a legitimate sweepstakes prize and are asked to cash it and wire or send a portion back - STOP - you are the victim of a fraudulent contact. The check is not real! Consumers should always remember that at Publishers Clearing House no payment or fee is ever necessary to enter or claim a prize.

Tip 2: Be Suspicious of Callers Claiming You've Won – But Ask You to Send Money

If you receive a telephone call from someone claiming you have won a sweepstakes prize and are asked to send money - STOP - you have not heard from a legitimate sweepstakes company. At Publishers Clearing House we do not notify our contest winners by phone.

Tip 3: Be Wary of E-mails Claiming You've Won – and Asking You to Send Money

If you receive an e-mail notifying you that you have won a major sweepstakes prize, but are asked to provide personal financial information, or send money - STOP -– you have most likely been contacted by a fraudulent sweepstakes scam operator. At Publishers Clearing House we do not notify major prize winners by e-mail.

Tip 4: Never Give Your Credit Card Number to Collect a Prize

If you are asked to provide your credit card number or provide your financial bank account information in order to claim a sweepstakes prize - STOP. Fraudulent scam artists often request this information and then go on a spending spree with your credit card; or wipe out your bank account.

Tip 5: Do Not Send Money to Claim a Sweepstakes Prize

If you are asked to send money to pre-pay taxes, pay a legal fee, pay a border fee, load funds on a Green Dot Card or pay any kind of fee to claim a sweepstakes prize - STOP - you have not heard from a legitimate sweepstakes company. Whether contacted by mail, phone or e-mail, remember: no legitimate sweepstakes company will ever ask you to pay or send money to claim a prize. It's prohibited and unlawful!

Tip 6: Always Play Safely

At PCH we include a Sweepstakes Facts insert in every promotional offer we send. Be sure to read the Sweepstakes Facts, as well as our Official Rules. They are there to provide you with all the information you need to play safely! Don't fall for 'lookalike' mailings that try to mislead consumers by imitating legitimate sweepstakes.

Tip 7: If an Offer Sounds Too Good to be True, Think Twice - It Usually is!

Remember, No Purchase is Necessary to enter a legitimate sweepstakes and the winning is always free!

Tip 8: Contact PCH: Know the Company Conducting the Sweepstakes

PCH provides customers with assistance and can answer any sweepstakes questions you may have. If you wish to report a scam you can find our contact information online.

 

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