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GRAND ISLAND — A scammer claiming to be with Publisher Clearing House took over $2,000 from a Grand Island resident between late September and early October.
According to the Grand Island Police Department, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, officers took a report of fraud from a 75-year-old male.
The man reported to being scammed out of $2,500 from an unknown individual on Facebook Messenger claiming to be with Publisher Clearing House (PCH).
PCH is known for their bulk mail direct marketing of periodicals (and later merchandise) as an alternative to door-to-door magazine subscription sales. PCH is most widely known for its sweepstakes and prize-based games, which were introduced in 1967.
In 2025, PCH filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and its assets were acquired by an online sweepstakes company.
Due to their sweepstakes the “Publisher’s Clearing House” Scam is one of the most prevalent scams aimed particularly at older adults.
In it the victim receives a phone call, text, or email, telling them that they have won an exorbitant amount of money in the Publisher’s Clearing House lottery.
Most of the victims have never even entered the lottery but fail to recall that fact. The scammer tells the victim that they have won millions of dollars, but that they have to send money in order to pay “taxes” or “processing fees.”
They typically ask for thousands of dollars to be sent by wire, cashier’s check, gift cards, Venmo, or PayPal.
They tell the victim not to tell friends or relatives because it is intended to be a “surprise.”
