Publishers Clearing House - Does PCH need your social Security number?

Question

My mom got a letter saying she won some money, but they want her to send her social security number to them. This screams scam to me, but I checked the address and it's linked right to their website.

Does PCH need a social to give you money?

Answer 1

sounds like a scam to me.  Take the letter and the address and check on snopes.com.  I am betting it isn't an honest win!

Answer 2

NO, BUT DO NOT BELIEVE THIS SCAM! THEY ARE FRAUDS!

Answer 3

NO...AND DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM.

Answer 4

Uh, no!!

Answer 5

In this day and age of identity theft, I can understand why you would be leary of giving your social security number to someone.

But the fact is that if you win over $600 a company is required to send a 1099 to the recipient of prize winnings and to to the IRS and state taxing authorities. Usually this request comes in the form of a Form W-9. This is a request for tax payer identification number. If you fail to provide your SS# then the company is required by law to withhold part of your winnings and turn that money over to the IRS. You would then have to prove to the IRS that the withholding belongs to you.

If you look at the form and instructions on the attached link, you will see also that there is a penalty of $50 for not providing your SS# when it was requested by a business/person that had a legal right to have that information.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf?p...

If you doubt that the request is valid, contact the company requesting the information to verify that they indeed had sent the request. If they did not provide a W-9, I would request that form and verify the address to return the form to. Websites may be faked so I would not trust the address to the website, I would look up a telephone number on an independent site to get the mailing address. I would then send the form Return Receipt Requested.

Answer 6

i dont think so.  she should call pch directly to ask them.  sounds very fishy. in this day and age, anyone can probably attach a web site to anything. tell her never to give out her ss#.

Answer 7

Yes they  do - they'd need it for the 1099 they'll give her at the end of the year to report the amount for tax purposes.  If you are at all concerned about it's being valid though, call PHC and ask them.

Answer 8

If your mother won $600 or more, giving her Social Security number will be mandatory if she wants the money.

Answer 9

Yes, they would because they have to file a 1099 with the government. However, I would make VERY sure that you are talking to someone from PCH before you do and that the prize is something you really want (and on which you want to pay tax)

Answer 10

Your instincts prove correct. These scams have been around forever. I even found on the PCH website a disclaimer warning people about scammers.