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Is the Publishers Clearing House winner call a scam?

A typical version of this message
Congratulations! This is the Prize Patrol from Publishers Clearing House. You are the confirmed winner of $2.5 million and a new Mercedes-Benz. To release your winnings, you must first pay the federal taxes and insurance fee of $499 today. Keep this confidential until the official presentation at your home.
Why it is a lottery/sweepstakes scam
Yes. The real Publishers Clearing House shows up unannounced with cameras — it never calls ahead, and above all it never asks winners to pay anything. 'Pay taxes and fees to release your prize' is the defining tell of every lottery scam: real taxes on winnings are handled through the IRS after you are paid, not wired to a caller in advance. You also cannot win a sweepstakes you never entered. The confidentiality request keeps family from stopping you.
What to do
Hang up and send nothing — each payment leads to another 'final' fee. Talk about the call with someone you trust; secrecy is the scam's protection, not yours. These operations call back for months, so consider blocking. If money was sent, report to ic3.gov and your bank right away.

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Checked by Double Check on August 31, 2026. This page documents a widely reported scam pattern; the example wording is representative, with links and personal details replaced. See more in the scam guide or recent answers.