PORTLAND, Ore. — For decades, Publishers Clearing House made dreams come true. In August 2012, its Prize Patrol surprised a Southern Oregon man with balloons, flowers and an oversized check.

“You won $5,000 a week, forever!” a member of the Prize Patrol said with TV cameras rolling.

John Wyllie of White City, Oregon thought he was set for life. The jackpot allowed him to retire. Wyllie moved closer to his kids and bought a house on six wooded acres near Bellingham, Washington.

Every January for the past 12 years, Publishers Clearing House deposited a prize payment of $260,000 into Wyllie’s bank account. But this year, the money never came. In April 2025, Publishers Clearing House filed for bankruptcy.

“Why didn’t somebody give me a heads up? 'Hey, we’re going out of business,'” Wyllie

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