Everyone loves the thought of a giant check appearing at their door, but a call from Publishers Clearing House might not be the real deal.
Publishers Clearing House and the FTC have been getting reports that scammers are using the household name to trick people out of their hard-earned cash. Scammers call, claiming that you’ve won the sweepstakes — but when you try to collect the prize, you’ll be asked to send money to pay for “fees and taxes.”
Here’s the truth: Publishers Clearing House will never ask you to pay a fee. In fact, no legitimate prize promoter will ever charge you for a win. If someone calls and asks you to pay for a prize, hang up and report it to the FTC.
Another thing? Publishers Clearing House doesn’t call ahead to say you’ve won. That’s the whole point of the giant check and balloons: the element of surprise. If “Publishers Clearing House” calls you out of the blue, it’s almost certainly a scammer.
Why This Keeps Happening: The Trust Problem with Phone Calls
Scammers thrive because customers can’t tell who’s really calling. When your phone just says “Spam Risk” or “Unknown Caller,” even legitimate businesses get ignored. That’s why call spoofing and brand impersonation scams have exploded — costing Americans billions each year.
How Businesses Can Fix It: Branded Calling
At First Orion, we’re helping enterprises restore trust in every call with branded calling. Instead of “Unknown Caller,” your customers see your business name, logo, and reason for calling right on the mobile display. It’s the difference between getting ignored and getting answered.
Branded calling doesn’t just improve answer rates — it protects your brand from being impersonated by scammers. When customers know it’s really you, they pick up with confidence.
Ready to stop scammers from hijacking your brand? See how First Orion's branded calling helps businesses protect customers and drive engagement
