Yes, Publishers Clearing House does mail out letters with activation codes. The postcards contain codes to enter sweepstakes, not to collect money you’ve already won.

The spokesperson attached a sample copy of the letters PCH most recently mailed out. It includes a five-character activation code to be entered onto a PCH URL.

That dream has kept Publishers Clearing House’s sweepstakes popular for decades. But it has also made PCH a popular target for scammers trying to trick victims. Several readers have recently asked ...