CHARLOTTE, N.C. — That long-awaited phone call claiming you’ve won millions from Publishers Clearing House may not be the good news it seems. The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a sweepstakes scam in which fraudsters impersonate the well-known prize company, pressuring victims to pay fees for prizes that don’t exist.
According to BBB Scam Tracker reports, victims receive calls from people claiming to be Publishers Clearing House employees, congratulating them on winning millions of dollars, a brand-new car or both. To make the ruse more believable, scammers may send photos of the supposed prize and even promise celebrity visits to personally deliver the winnings.
“There’s a lot of excitement built into these calls, and that’s exactly what scammers rely on,” said Juliana O’Rork, BBB vice president of marketing, communications and business development. “They want people caught up in the moment, so they don’t stop to question what’s really happening.”…