Refund checks in the mail for eligible Publishers Clearing House customers

Updated: 1:01 PM CDT Apr 30, 2025

Scammers are playing the long game. That’s one of the key takeaways in the Better Business Bureau’s new risk report, which analyzes reports made to its scam tracker in 2024 and determines which are the most dangerous. It’s the likelihood that somebody’s going to lose money, time, their identity. So when we assess risk, that’s what we’re looking at. Melanie McGovern with the BBB says the riskiest scams all had. *** common theme financial grooming, where the scammer builds *** relationship with you first. People were nurtured into the scam. So which scams ranked the highest on the risk list? Coming in at number 3, romance and friendship scams, where scammers target you on dating platforms and social media. That is the longest of the long games. There’s multiple factors going on. They’re building your trust. They’re getting you to start thinking with your heart instead of your. Once you start giving, they keep taking, and that’s the biggest thing that we’ve seen. People will lose thousands of dollars. Coming in at number 2, employment scams. The BBB says scammers are targeting young people looking for remote work, and people ages 18 to 34 are reporting these scams the most. They’re getting texted, Hey, you got the job. Oh, did I even apply for it? You know, you gotta have those moments of clarity of This doesn’t seem right. I’m going to investigate it. But what was the most dangerous scam? Coming in at number one, investment and cryptocurrency scams, promising large returns with little or no risk. The BBB says more than 80% of people targeted by scammers reported losing money. If you are solicited, ask them, Hey, what are your credentials? Where are your licenses? Can I look you up online? Asking questions is the best way to avoid *** scam, especially when it comes to investment in cryptocurrency. The report also looked at imposter scams in which company scammers pretended to be the most. Publishers Clearinghouse was the most impersonated organization followed by the US Postal Service and PayPal. So if someone claiming to be with one of those groups reaches out to you, whether it’s *** call, *** text or an email, always be extra careful and take the time to vet their claims. Reporting in Washington, I’m Amy Lowe.

Refund checks in the mail for eligible Publishers Clearing House customers

Updated: 1:01 PM CDT Apr 30, 2025

If you receive a refund check from Publishers Clearing House, don’t throw it away and rule it out as a scam. Related video above: The most dangerous scams of 2024 (and how to avoid them)According to the Federal Trade Commission, refund checks totaling more than $18 million are headed to more than 281,724 eligible Publisher Clearing House customers who are eligible for a refund as part of a settlement.An FTC complaint in 2023 accused Publishers Clearing House of using language and designs to trick people into thinking they had to buy things to enter or increase their chances of winning a sweepstakes.The FTC complaint also pointed to what it said were deceptive email subject lines that could have led PCH customers to think the emails were related to official documents like tax forms.Only PCH customers who received, clicked on one of the PCH emails labeled as deceptive and ordered a product will receive a refund.For questions about the refund process, click here.The FTC does not ask anyone to pay for or give account information for a refund check. Anyone who is asked for payment to file for an FTC refund should report this at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you receive a refund check from Publishers Clearing House, don’t throw it away and rule it out as a scam.

Related video above: The most dangerous scams of 2024 (and how to avoid them)

According to the Federal Trade Commission, refund checks totaling more than $18 million are headed to more than 281,724 eligible Publisher Clearing House customers who are eligible for a refund as part of a settlement.

An FTC complaint in 2023 accused Publishers Clearing House of using language and designs to trick people into thinking they had to buy things to enter or increase their chances of winning a sweepstakes.

The FTC complaint also pointed to what it said were deceptive email subject lines that could have led PCH customers to think the emails were related to official documents like tax forms.

Only PCH customers who received, clicked on one of the PCH emails labeled as deceptive and ordered a product will receive a refund.

For questions about the refund process, click here.

The FTC does not ask anyone to pay for or give account information for a refund check. Anyone who is asked for payment to file for an FTC refund should report this at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.