Publishers Clearing House will pay $18.5 million to nearly 282,000 customers who regulators say were deceived by the sweepstakes company.

The FTC announced that Publishers Clearing House has agreed to pay $18.5 million to customers who were “harmed" by the company.

The Federal Trade Commission is sending over $18 million in refunds to consumers harmed by misleading claims made by Publishers Clearing House, the agency announced Wednesday. The checks will be issued to nearly 300,