Telemarketers and/or scammers are a lot like a rash: incredibly irritating, hard to get rid of and even less welcome.  And, unfortunately, they’re persistent. 

It seems hardly a day goes by that we don’t have at least one or two calls reporting scams of some sort, with many of them basically the same and most of them using the names of well-known organizations, in an effort to make their intended victim – you – think they’re dealing with a legitimate company or business.

Scammers have claimed to be employed with: Walmart, local banks, local utility companies, credit card companies, law enforcement agencies, even with the IRS and the list goes on.

The name being used most often in our area in recent months is Publishers Clearing House.

The con is pretty much the same every time:  the caller says you’ve won something – maybe it’s a million dollars, maybe it’s two million, maybe it’s a new car, maybe it’s all of the above and a barrel of monkeys, whatever.  You’re just that lucky. 

NOW, all you have to do in order to collect those fabulous prizes according to that con artist – is send some money for “taxes”, some sort of “fee”, or whatever.  Don’t send it.  It’s all a lie.  If anyone tells you that you have to first pay anything, before you can collect your winnings, well you didn’t “win” anything.

WEIS Radio News has spoken personally with Publishers Clearinghouse officials, who made it clear, that in the event someone does win a substantial amount of money, representatives  with Publishers Clearinghouse do NOT contact that person through the U.S. Mail, via e-mail, or by telephone; instead, just like in the television commercials, they show up at your home with the prize, in person.

So if you receive any similar notification that you have “won” a large amount of money from Publisher’s Clearinghouse – don’t get your hopes up and above all don’t fall for the gimmick being used by these crafty con-artists.

If you’re ever actually a winner you’ll see a van pull up in front of your home and a bunch of very nicely-dressed people will come to your front door with check in hand.