Scammers Impersonate Publishers Clearing House To Target Metro Detroit Residents

Scammers have been pretending to work for Publishers Clearing House, calling metro Detroit residents with fake prize offers that demand money upfront. Wiliams Bezverkov of Inkster received a call last month. Someone claimed he won $2.8 million, $5,000 a week for life, and a 2026 Porsche SUV.

The impostor said retailers like Dollar General, Family Dollar, Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart had entered him into the sweepstakes. Bezverkov hadn't entered any contests himself. But he'd shopped at Dollar General recently, so he thought the call might be legitimate.

Then the scammer demanded $500 for a license to transport the prize from out of state into Michigan. Bezverkov asked if the fee could come out of his winnings. The caller refused. Payment through Cash App was required.

Bezverkov didn't send any money and contacted WXYZ Detroit about the scheme. The scammer called him 15 times on one Sunday alone. Calls came as early as 8:30 a.m. and as late as 11 p.m. on weekends.

"People get those dollar signs in their eyes," said Troy Baker with the Better Business Bureau to Alicia Smith with WXYZ. "They start to dream about all the ways their life is going to change. And they start to ignore those red flags."

Publishers Clearing House says winnings are free. Winners never have to pay to claim a prize. The company maintains a fraud protection page that helps people identify impostor scams.

Targets of these scams should report the incident to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Publishers Clearing House Fraud Protection Page. Those who sent money or shared information with scammers should contact their financial institutions or credit card companies as well.

Victims who received scam letters or packages in the mail can report them to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Better Business Bureau accepts reports through its Scam Tracker.

Baker explained that this type of fraud continues because scammers know how to manipulate victims with promises of wealth. Real sweepstakes winners don't have to pay money, taxes, or fees to receive their prizes.