Tripod Productions LLC

I won a consolation prize in the Publishers Clearing House $10,000,000 Giveaway. How common is this?

I just found this envelope and opened it. Apparently it expired in June, but it said I had won $400.00 gift certificates toward 6 different things including a dell laptop with free internet and lots of programs, a 12 mp digital video camera, and a gold and diamond watch. I had to pay the remaining balance. The computer was listed at $699.00. Is this just another way to get people to buy this stuff or did I really win? I want to know your opinions on this. My grandfather passed away on May 8th of this year. He signed up for the publishers clearing house sweepstakes every week for years and never won. Now he’s gone. This “consolation prize” was awarded to me on May 20th of this year, my (recently widowed) grandmothers birthday. It would be really cool if I really did actually win something, even if I can’t claim it now. So is it significant or not?

Hello. This is the head of Consumer Affairs for the real Publishers Clearing House based in Port Washington, New York. I read your account and wanted to alert you and all readers right away that the offer did not come from the real Publishers Clearing House. If you examine the offer carefully you will note the names and return address used are not for the real Publishers Clearing House.

A quick tip for you and all consumers. If the prize is not free and requires any form of payment or cost it is not legitimate and it is certainly not from the real Publishers Clearing House. Additional consumer tips and education on sweepstakes offers can be found at the Info Center of our web site, www.pch.com.

Our next million dollar award will be given away in just a few short weeks and unlike the offer you reference it will be given away totally free with NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

C. Irving
AVP, Consumer Affairs
Publishers Clearing House

Digital Camera GIVEAWAY!!! ” 50 ” Subscriber Contest!!! 2011