Full Notification

Giles County Sheriff's Department has an important message for the community!

SCAM WARNING
The Giles County Sheriff’s Department has received several phone calls form citizens regarding a possible scam. The persons received a phone call or mail that reports to be from Publishers Clearing House and they have won cash or other prizes and they are instructed to send money or buy cards and put money on them and send in to claim the prize.
Chief Deputy Tommy Chapman has researched this particular scam and reports the following information from the real Publishers Clearing House Web Site at http://info.pch.com/consumer-information/fraud-protection
Upon talking to the real PCH Chief Chapman was told anyone who believes they have been the victim of a fraudulent contact using the name of Publishers Clearing House, may contact PCH at their toll-free number 1-800-392-4190. Anyone who believes they have received a suspicious email using their name and logo, may forward it to our fraud reporting mailbox, [email protected].
“PCH the winning is always free and you NEVER have to pay to claim a prize award. Recognizing the difference between legitimate sweepstakes and other types of offers that may not be legitimate will help you protect yourself and your family.
If someone contacts you claiming to be from PCH, and tells you that you’ve won a prize award – then asks you to send a payment or money card in order to claim the prize – STOP! You have not heard from the real PCH.
Recently we’ve been hearing reports that scammers are accessing and using the names of our real PCH employees in their criminal attempts to deceive you. Names you’ve come to know and recognize such as Dave Sayer, Todd Sloane and Danielle Lam – all real members of our famous PCH Prize Patrol. Even the name of Deborah Holland, our Executive Vice President whose name appears in PCH promotional mailers, has been hijacked and illegally used by scammers.
If you are ever contacted by someone claiming to represent 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 Moneypak 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 award. PCH employees would never contact you personally or in advance to notify you of a prize award. Our prize awards are presented just the way you see in our popular TV commercials, ‘live and in person’ by our Prize Patrol, with balloons, champagne and check in hand - - and with no advance notification!
Scammers use any means available – mail; telephone; internet; email and even Facebook! Whatever the method of contact, their main goal is to deceive you into believing you’ve won a prize award and need to send a pre-payment to claim that prize. Don’t fall for it!
PCH continues to actively partner with The Federal Trade Commission, the US Postal Service, police and law enforcement officials around the country by sharing information we collect to help these regulatory agencies go after the bad guys. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that certain scammers continue to operate. They will do their best to try and deceive you into thinking you are dealing with the real PCH. Don’t fall for it! - - - Remember, stay protected and don’t fall victim – if the prize isn’t free – and you’re expected to send some type of payment to claim it, you’re being SCAMMED! “