COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — If you’ve entered a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes hoping to win big, there’s a chance money is coming your way.
And, no, this isn’t a scam.
It’s because the Federal Trade Commission just announced it is sending $18.5 million in refunds to consumers, saying they were misled and subsequently harmed by Publishers Clearing House.
In its case, the FTC said PCH used language and designs to trick people into thinking they had to buy things to enter or increase their chances of winning a sweepstakes, sent emails with deceptive subject lines that led people into thinking the emails were related to official documents like tax forms, and added deceptive shipping and handling fees.
PCH agreed to pay and the FTC is sending checks to 281,724 affected consumers.
Not everyone who played is getting paid, though. Only those who got and clicked on one of the emails the FTC said were deceptive and then ordered a product will get a refund.
If you’re eligible, you don’t need to do anything to get that money back. A check will come to you, and all you need to do is cash it within 90 days.
When it comes to sweepstakes, there are some important reminders for all consumers:
- You can’t win if you don’t play. So, if you get a call or an email out of the blue, be skeptical.
- As Better Call 4 has told you before, and as Publishers Clearing House even states on its , you should never have to pay in order to claim a prize.
- And when it comes to your refund, nobody from the FTC or any other established government agency will ever ask you to pay or give account information to get your money back.
If you have questions about your eligibility or payment, contact the refund administrator at 888-516-0774 or by email at info@PCHRefunds.com. You can also visit the FTC’s website to view frequently asked questions about the refund process.