Strathcona County RCMP warns the public of a resurging prize scam

Strathcona County RCMP warns residents about the Publishers Clearing House scam, following a recent incident where one resident lost $4000 to this scam.

Publishers Clearing House scams begin with scammers contacting individuals through unexpected phone calls, emails, letters, text messages, and social media messages claiming that they have won a lucrative cash prize or luxury item.

The scammers then go on to request a fee to process taxes, registration, delivery costs, or other bogus fees. They pressure victims into providing this money promptly via wire transfer, gift card numbers, prepaid debit cards, etc. In reality, the scammers pocket the money while the target receives nothing. Additionally, victims have now given scammers sensitive personal and financial details for potential identity theft or future extortion efforts.

Scammers may claim there is a limited time offer or deadline to pay the fee. They may warn victims not to tell friends or family and have been know to provide fake information or documents to support their scam.

To avoid falling victim to these scams, individuals are advised to be cautious of unexpected messages claiming they have won a prize, never provide personal or financial information to unknown individuals, and verify the legitimacy of any prize notifications through official channels.

If you, or someone you know, is a victim of this scam or any other type of fraud, report it to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. For more information, visit: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

Cst. Chantelle Kelly
Strathcona County RCMP