Magazine vendor defends name

Small-town newspapers across the U.S. routinely print stories about con artists who falsely claim to represent the Publishers Clearing House, a Port Washington-based magazine subscription vendor.

The company keeps track of these police reports, and tries to make sure everyone knows they're not a party to any scam.

Last week the company wrote to The Daily Journal, of Vineland, N.J.

"I read with great interest the July 8 article… regarding a fraudulent scam, posing as Publishers Clearing House (as reported in the Millville police update)," Margaret M. Crossan, consumer affairs manager, wrote in the published letter.

"It was a bit disappointing that the notice did not make clear that the scam check was not from the ‘real’ Publishers Clearing House," Crossan wrote.

For the record, here's The Daily Journal's police blotter item: "A local man reported Wednesday a possible scam involving a false Publishers Clearing House check. The man said his wife was sent a $2.6 million check with instructions that she first mail in a $3,000 check in order to collect it. They didn't respond but reported it to police."

Above left, a Tennessee woman receives a prize from real Publishers Clearing House representatives.

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