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November 19, 2006
Awards Verification Center Letter
A few days ago I received an "Official Prizewinner Notification" letter from the dubious Awards Verification Center aka Silverleaf Resorts, 2400 W Pioneer Pkwy, Suite 210, Arlington, TX 76013. Susan Murray, their Awards Director, stated that I had recently one of four prizes [Mercedes Benz M-Class, BMW X5, Porshe Cayenne, etc.]
After some internet searches, I found out that this outfit is in the Time Share business and seem to have a record with the Dallas BBB.
*UPDATE* 21 NOV 2006
This is too strange. Today, I received the "blue post card" in the mail from -- Awards Verification Center. Susan Murray is still their Awards Director and she wants me to speak to one of her assistants named Sandra or Kim. Their toll free number is 888-383-7152.
Hmm. I wander how much they squander on postage for all of these mailings?
Article 4 [Fort Worth Star Telegram]
*UPDATE* 5 DEC 2006
You will never guess what I received in the mail today. A Christmas card from a high school bud? Wrong. A bill from the cable company? Wrong again.
Disguised in a yellow and brown envelope, I received another letter from.....the mysterious Awards Verification Center. They were sending me my FINAL NOTICE.
Upon further review I realized:
- They listed a new toll free number 866-804-8591.
- Sandra and Kim are still Susan Murray's assistants.
- Susan Murray still holds office as the Awards Director.
*UPDATE* 3 AUG 2008
While listening to a Clark Howard Podcast, Clark tells the story about receiving a post card from the Award Verification Center. [Link to Podcast as MP3] Podcast --> 7/18/2008 - Hour 1
[Link to Clark Howard's Archives]
Posted at 03:33 PM in Humor, Personal | Permalink
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Comments
does anyone know how to get ride of these people. They have called our house every day three or even four times a day.
Posted by: matthius | Dec 15, 2006 12:36:40 PM
hi today i recived a letter from the awards verification center and i called and said that i need to set a time and day to go to this resort in tyler texas and before i waste my time on it i was looking to see that if it is a scam or not could any one of you help me out with knowing the truth about mrs,susan murray and her so called award verfication ceneter
nicole.
Posted by: nicole | Jan 27, 2007 11:03:35 AM
Nicole -
Even though I have not personally responded to their several offers, I'm led to believe that you must sit through some sort of sales meeting or sales pitch about purchasing a "time-share" to redeem your prize.
One user wrote about this experience here.
http://www.clowncarblog.com/archives/000611.html
Good luck.
Chris
Posted by: Chris | Jan 27, 2007 2:45:46 PM
Hi -
I have also received a few of the 4 x 6 "postcards" regarding my "guaranteed prize" (Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, $40,000 cash, etc.). This was also my "final notice". Same Return Address. Same Director (Susan Murray). Same assistants (Sandra, Kim). So I decided to look this up online. Funny story on the link posted by Chris on January 27th. Glad I checked this out.
By the way, the toll free # I received is 888-556-0929. Needless to say, I haven't called.
Posted by: Brent | Jan 30, 2007 6:43:04 PM
I got a postcard to is it a scam. I called today and they seemed furreal.
Posted by: Ann | Jan 30, 2007 9:07:15 PM
Chris, hilarious story, true or not. Thanks for the info on "The Blue Postcard"
Posted by: Landon | Feb 7, 2007 11:10:09 AM
I'm really thankful for everyone's comments regarding the Awards Verification Center in Texas. They make it sound so tempting but the red flag when up as I still continue to receive the "Final Notice" to call and that I would receive the guaranteed prizes. The same prizes everyone else was offered was also offered to me. What a hoax!
Posted by: Carmen Caron | Feb 13, 2007 7:48:59 PM
I just got the notice today...should I even call?
Posted by: Samantha | Feb 16, 2007 9:19:23 PM
I got my first blue postcard from Susan last week and my second one this week. This one stated it is my FINAL NOTICE. Glad to hear I'm not the only one getting them.
Not sure if this is related to the blue card people...I also got a call at work yesterday from 800-918-4224 - they hung up when I answered, probably realized it was a business. Caller ID said "Award Claim"
Posted by: Jenny | Feb 27, 2007 3:33:09 PM
I'm very glad to have found your site, having just received the same "Instant Gold Giveaway" winning notification, today. It isn't worth my bother -- that is for certain -- especially if it is connected to a time share. Worse, they're on the BBB "bad" list. Thanks for the "heads-up." In the meantime, save wisely -- and you'll be rich, eventually.
Posted by: Daniel | Mar 2, 2007 3:00:41 PM
Write "Return to Sender" on the card and send it back.
Posted by: David Cederlund | Mar 6, 2007 10:35:06 AM
haha, my friend's dad got the same one! We just googled it and this popped up! go figure!
our number is 1-888-438-9492. PSYCHO
Posted by: Faery | Mar 12, 2007 1:00:36 PM
Thank you, Thank you for this website. I also received the blue card. I have received this before, scheduled and cancelled. But out of curiosity, I called :). There was the sales pitch, of course, and I was scheduling a visit. As I was speaking and confirming my visit, I "Goggled" the Awards verification Center". I began reading all the comments, and began to think of a reason to cancel. When the salesman stated, I had to have an income of 40K, and I immediately stated, I did not. Talk about abruptly hanging up on me (lol). Isn't the Internet wonderful, just a few seconds of research can save a lifetime of regret. Thanks to all of you for posting.
Posted by: Shelia | Mar 14, 2007 10:29:01 AM
I just got the famed call from Nicloe of the Award Claims Center (800-918-4224) at work on my answering machine...I either won a Ford Explorer or $25k...claim number SNSC3112. If anyone wants it, go for it. As far as I'm concerned, if you really won something, they will come knocking on your door with the prize in tow.
Posted by: Tim | Mar 26, 2007 11:06:09 AM
I can only guess where they get their address list. I've got two addresses listed for my location; one is the official USPS address, the other is the one assigned to me via the telephone company. The latter has caused a little chaos when it comes to calling in service calls or bill delivery from time to time. The address listed on the card is the one listed with the telephone company. If the bells are selling their address lists against the will of their customers, then they are in for a serious shellacking by the state and fed.
Posted by: Nighthawke | Apr 1, 2007 6:29:32 PM
THANKS A TON & KUDO'S to your site - These guys sent me the same envelope. It contained – a INSTANT GOLD GIVEAWAY CERTIFICATE & A LETTER ADDRESSED TO ME .
.Now look at the language - Mercedes or Porsche or $1500 Shopping Spree or Adventure trip or $500 Cash - What a Low IQ idiot would have drafted the INSTANT GOLD GIVE AWAY CERTIFICATE.
Please be aware of THIS SILLY SCAM:
From :
SUSAN MURRAY
REGIONAL DISBURSEMENT DEPARTMENT
RECORDS DIVISION
2400 W PIONEER PKWY, SUITE 210
ARLINGTON, TX 76013
PH- 1-888-712-5019
THANKS A TON GUYS
Posted by: Techipro27 | Apr 2, 2007 5:30:57 AM
JUST RECEIVED SAME LETTER. IT"S A SCAM. THEY TELL YOU YOU"VE WON A MERCEDES, BMW, PORCHE, CASH, ETC., BUT YOU MUST ATTEND A TIME SHARE SALES PITCH SEMINAR IN ORDER TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE. THEN THEY TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH PRIZE UNTIL YOU ATTEND.
WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE FANTASTIC PRIZE IS THAT THEY'RE GIVING AWAY? ...A ONE DAY (DAYTIME ONLY, NOT OVERNIGHT) STAY, OR ACCESS TO A RESORT. THEY CALL IT A "HOLIDAY PACK". WHAT A JOKE.
BOTTOM LINE- THEY ARE LYING. DON'T TAKE THE BAIT.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY...IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS.
Posted by: RATHERNOT | Apr 13, 2007 3:14:54 PM
Stay away from time shares, do you know how much commission their salespeople make from one sale? Ever tried to sell a time share? Don't buy, it's the worst deal out there.
Posted by: dustie | Apr 16, 2007 11:17:54 PM
Must be an old mailing list they are using, bucause my wife just received the same notice sent to her maiden name.
Shredded With Extreme Prejudice
Posted by: YeahBabyYeah | Apr 17, 2007 7:02:13 PM
Hey what's up, I just received one of those blue cards as well as the wonderful letter. Has anyone ever gone to collect one of these prizes? I have an appointment, but should I cancel? Please Holla back!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: LinLin | Apr 25, 2007 10:34:18 AM
My daughter received a letter with a $1,750 check at the top. It looked real until I examined it closely and found "This is not a check" written lightly on the right-hand edge, and "Non-Negotiable" on the back. By the way, the toll-free number has changed to 800-925-9525. It does say she (or we) can stop future mailings by contacting AVC at their address in Dallas. Nope. Not wasting 39 cents on that one.
Posted by: Laurie | Apr 29, 2007 1:18:35 PM
Just recived a blue card?????????????? I wounder what it is. NOT!!! I figure a scam of some kind
Posted by: AJGREEN | May 3, 2007 9:59:28 AM
Just received my letter today, at my office, I wrote "deceased" and returned it. Also, there is no time shares or resorts in Tyler, Texas. I have lived in Tyler for 30 years, great place to raise kids, but no vacation spots.
Posted by: Elizabeth | May 7, 2007 1:31:33 PM
Just received mine, and some info comes up on this place in the dallas BBB.
http://www.dallas.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=8000090&language=1
Posted by: Andrew Cormier | May 8, 2007 6:47:16 PM
I just called the number and bluntly asked how big of a scam this is. And they told me the following about their program.
1) Their are qualifying requirements to receive the "free" gifts. (21+,Credit or Debit card in your name,40k+ household income)
2) You must do a 90 minute tour of one of their time share resorts, it's a driven tour with a sales guy (yah scary but just tell him no it doesn't matter).
3) You receive a scratch off ticket at the end of the tour that will tell you which of the 4 big prizes you win (car, 40k cash, exotic island, 500 cash) and then you get to PICK which gift you want (cruise or Las vegas vacation). You WILL receive at least the dollar value of the check attached to your notice.
This is not a scam as people think but a strong selling tactic. Personally I think it's worth taking a day off work driving to the nearest resort they have and spending the 90 minutes just for the vacation (cruise or vegas).
*note: strong = kinda forcefull :)
Posted by: Andrew Cormier | May 8, 2007 7:09:15 PM
