Question: We’re getting calls saying we’ve won big money from Publishers Clearing House and all we have to do is pay a fee to claim it. I keep telling my husband this is a scam, but he doesn’t believe me. Can you check?
Answer: It’s definitely a scam, because the genuine sweepstakes company never charges a fee to claim a prize. Do not send any money. There are other red flags, too, which we’ll cover below in a recap of tips for spotting PCH scams, which persist despite the company’s repeated warnings not to fall for such thieving tactics.
We’ve heard recently from several Kokua Line readers reporting similar schemes, in which a caller asserts that “the winner” (actually a potential mark) may claim a large cash prize (purportedly in the hundreds of thousands of dollars) by paying a fee (usually $400 or more) via various methods (accepting a cash-on-delivery package, loading a prepaid debit card, etc.). Every iteration is fraudulent, according to PCH, which offers these scam-spotting tips:
>> It’s a scam if you’re required to wire or pay any amount of money in order to claim a prize. PCH sweepstakes are always free to enter, and there is never any fee associated with winning. “PCH will never ask you to pay a cent to collect a prize,” the company emphasizes on its website.
>> It’s a scam if someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House tries to contact you in advance regarding prize delivery. The real Prize Patrol awards big checks in person, to capture the winners’ elation on film (scenes that are featured in PCH’s nationally televised commercials). Calling in advance would ruin the surprise. PCH states that it would never call to update any personal information in its files.
>> It’s a scam if someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House sends you a friend request or private message on Facebook. Neither individual employees nor the official Prize Patrol fan page would do so, so don’t fall for this tactic even if the message uses the name and photo of a real PCH employee.
You can report rip-off attempts to PCH by emailing abuse@pch.com or calling 800-392-4190.
Homeless in Honolulu
The ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation has released the latest in its series of “know your rights” guides, this one focused on homeless individuals in Honolulu affected by the city’s enforcement of the stored property and sidewalk nuisance ordinances.
The online guide, found at tinyurl.com/acluhawaii- homeless, spells out a person’s right to retrieve property before a sweep begins, what items the city must store (or not) and how to reclaim property later. It also provides detailed information about Oahu shelters; how to replace lost IDs and other important documents; how to register to vote (a fixed address is not required); exemptions to Oahu’s sit-lie law (“expressive activity” is allowed, for example); the definition of a tent (must have more than one wall); and varying rules and enforcement depending on whether a property is run by the city, state, federal government or some other entity, among many other facts.
Although aimed mainly at homeless individuals and their advocates, the guide also is an informative tool for anyone interested in this subject — which includes many Kokua Line readers, by the volume of questions we receive about homelessness and its effects.
A printed version is planned in the next few weeks, as are translations in several languages, according to an ACLU spokeswoman.
The nonprofit previously published Hawaii-specific “Know Your Rights” guides about the First Amendment and youth rights. You can find them at acluhawaii.org.
Mahalo
I would like to send a mahalo to the volunteers who staffed the medical aid stations at the Hapalua Half Marathon on Sunday morning. My sister, who is from Minnesota, became overheated in the hot sun on Monsarrat Avenue. The volunteers were so kind and professional in helping her recover, and we were able to finish the race.
— Ruth Falter
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
