Yes, SCAM in all caps. This is the 2nd letter from these guys in the past two weeks. I had gotten one before, too, but never kept it around. I even attempted to file a complaint with the post office, but they responded with a 4 page form I needed to complete -- and who have the time or patience to do that?
You've probably gotten one of these postcards in the mail recently:
The back is pretty good -- and pretty convincing. A quick google search on the phone number and company proves it is a scam. A typical time share pitch where people never got their "prizes."
The back states (with my commentary in red):
Dear TIMOTHY R. LUX, (wow... smells form letter-esque already)
You are an official prizewinner in our NEW MERCEDES, BMW, PORSCHE or $40,000 CASH promotion. ("Promotion" meaning "scam".) We have been unable to contact you, (oh really?) therefore, in compliance with the program regulations (aka this week's car dealership-esque bullshit), this notice is being forwarded to your attention.
We are holding your choice of a luxury 4-day Royal Caribbean Cruise for two with meals and entertainment included, (what cruise would charge for food? Where else are you going to go when you are on a boat?) value $1,398 or pre-paid round trip airfare and two nights accommodations for two to your choice of Las Vegas/Orlando (for a time share "opportunity"), value $1,250, plus one of the four guaranteed prizes: a new MERCEDES BENZ M-Class (matchbox car), BMW X5 (matchbox car), PORSCHE Cayenne (matchbox car) or $40,000 CASH (Monopoly money), a $1,500 Shopping Spree (at K-Mart), Exotic Island Adventure (ala the movie Cast Away), a $806 value or $500 Cash. To avoid forfeiting your status as a recipient, please call toll free at 1-888-815-5617 WITHIN 72 HOURS (OH MY GOD THE SENSE OF URGENCY OVERWHELMS ME) and arrange for a time for you and your spouse to visit and claim your prizes. There is no obligation to purchase anything. You are guaranteed to receive your prize and gift immediately, in accordance with your confirmation letter. (Just as soon as you bend over and...)
I urge you to file complaints againt this "Awards Verification Center" who says to call them at 888-815-5617. Or just flood that number and waste all their time. If you really want to fill out the USPS mail fraud form, go right ahead -- and send them links to all the google results talking about these idiots.
Here is a better
blog post about it.
