FTC Holds Publishers Clearing House Accountable for Deceptive Sweepstakes Practices

Publishers Clearing House (PCH) has agreed to pay $18.5 million to consumers and make significant changes to its online business practices as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC accused PCH of using "dark patterns" to mislead consumers about sweepstakes entries, making them believe that a purchase was necessary to win or increase their chances of winning. The company also added surprise fees to product costs, used deceptive emails, and misrepresented its data-sharing policies. The settlement requires PCH to overhaul its user interface, compensate affected consumers, and implement measures to prevent deceptive practices in the future.