WATERTOWN — A scam involving the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes has apparently reached the North Country.

A DeKalb Junction woman reported to the Times that she received a call from someone representing the company and informing her she had won a prize. The catch was that the woman had to first send the company a money order covering taxes and fees.

According to the Federal Trade Commission’s website, the call was part of a common scam in which “winners” have to forward money to collect a prize.

“Paying to collect a prize is a scam. Every time,” the website says.

The site says Publishers Clearing House will never ask a winner to pay a fee to collect a prize, nor will any legitimate prize promoter. It warns against ever sending money to collect a prize and that if someone calls asking for money, hang up and report it to the FTC. A complaint form can be found on the FTC’s website at www.ftc.gov.