"PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE" SCAM

Letters that pretend to be from Publishers Clearing House have been turning up in 19 states, defrauding "winners" of their savings.

Victims receive letters and a phony check for up to $6000, along with instructions that pretend to be from Publishers Clearing House. Those instructions are to cash the check, then wire around $4,000 to the person who has sent the letter, at which time the rest of the "winnings" will be sent.

Of course, nothing of the kind ever happens. The deposited checks are credited by the bank before they are cleared, so the funds wired out of the account belong to the supposed "winner". Once the check bounces, which it will because it's counterfeit, the bank holds the account owner responsible for the missing money.

More information is available at www.bbb.org.