219-940-9235

Received unsolicited call from this number:

“My name is Jill.  We have gotten your number from a sweepstakes entry from over possibly 300 locations within the last 18 months.  You were selected as a finalist who may win a new car, $2500, 3day-2 night vacation, or 32” flat screen TV.  Please call me at find out how to collect your prize.”  

My wife and I didn’t ever fill out a sweepstakes form for this.  I called “Jill” and this actually looks like a bait to get you in for a 90 minute talk at the Vista Hotel in Gurnee Illinois to learn about vacations being offered by Anchor Bay.  See below for “Confirmation Email”.

I searched on Google and found information on this company.  Search on “anchor bay vacations gurnee il”.  The very first hit was from 800notes.com for “888-648-2797”.  Read other people’s experiences.  

Not really a scam but more of a bait and switch.  I didn’t bother going.

Call “Jill” at 800-251-3919 and give her a hard time.

> Email sent priot to prize pickup:
-----Original Message-----
From: awardsclaimcenter@comcast.net [mailto:awardsclaimcenter@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 5:10 PM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Confirmation Letter

Mr. xxxxx,

It was a pleasure speaking with you. Your confirmation letter is in the attachment. Make sure to PRINT it out and bring it with you to the presentation, it's one of the companies rules to avoid any type of misunderstanding on behalf of the gifts, and presentation entailment. Your claim number is ITC-8000, and is also indicated in the confirmation letter for you. If you would like to schedule  an appoitment, please reply back to this email with the day/time, instead of calling, to ensure I receive it on time.

Presentation times are:
Friday at 6:00 or 8:00
Saturday at 12:00 2:00 or 4:00

Have a wonderful day,
 Jillian Minton
 800-251-3919
"Notifications Manager"

Your Claim Number is: ITC-8000

Make sure to bring this confirmation letter with you

It is our pleasure to inform/invite you to our 90 minute hospitality presentation on discount travel along with various travel opportunities at 1425 Tri-State Parkway Unit 130 in Gurnee IL, through Anchor Bay Travel. After your presentation you will receive your Sweepstakes Scratch Ticket and you’re guaranteed to receive one of our four major gifts, just for attending. You DON’T have to buy, join, or sign-up for ANYTHING, to receive your gift! One of these gifts will be on your scratch off card………..

1. Brand New Ford Escape or $25,000 in cash, your choice.
2. $2,500 in Cash
3. Vacation.-3 days 2 nights Orlando or Las Vegas vacation including    round trip airfare for 2 adults.                          
4.  32”Flat screen Color TV.

You are under no obligation to purchase anything in order to receive your scratch ticket... This is not a timeshare company but a full service travel agency with offices, nationwide.

What to Expect:
Your presentation consists of a brief discussion of your vacation needs and various worldwide vacation opportunities.  Your tour representative will answer all your questions and ask for your comments.  That’s all there is to it!  You will be helping us and we will have the opportunity to show you that comfortable vacations, in exotic locales, are no longer just a dream!  After the presentation you will receive a scratch off ticket, to see which of the gifts you will receive!

What not to expect during your visit:
In no way whatsoever will there be any high pressure. We pride ourselves on having thousands of happy families that have joined our program because they see something spectacular. If you have an interest in joining our Vacation Family, we will help you to become involved at the level that is most comfortable for you and your family. No Pressure! We Promise!!!

Terms and Conditions:
Please do not bring any children or babies due to seating restrictions. This promotion is open to married couples and cohabiting couples, between the ages of 28-67, that have a combined annual income of at least $45,000. Single women may attend between the ages of 30-65 with an annual income of at least $45,000.  Married, and cohabiting couples, must attend together, and posses photo identification with the same physical address/last name.  Two forms of identification are required.  Acceptable identification is a driver’s license/photo ID and a major credit card (Master Card, Visa, American Express or Discover). No Debit cards or checkbooks, please. None of your personal information needs to leave your hand; this is just a second form of I.D.  United States residents only. Limited one premium per household.  No group travel is permitted.  A group is considered more than one family traveling together to the same gifting location, with the same arrival dates.  This promotion may not be combined with any other promotion.  With any gift received, consumer is responsible for any applicable taxes, associated with the gift received.

Anchor Bay
1425 Tri-State Parkway Unit 130
Gurnee, IL 60031

My call was very similar to Bill H 2/18/11, except she said I was one of 5 finalists for a car sweepstakes entered as long as 18 months ago. Caller ID was Jillian Minton. I had time so I called back. Got an answering machine identifying themselves as "Sweepstakes Group."

I think I have won about 4 cars this year, so I didn't leave a message. Ha!

Anchor Bay vacations is a hoax.We received email confirmation and responded to it,drove to Gurnee,IL and there was absolutely no business under that name went to exact address and the suite it was so called in was empty and looked as if it had been that way for a long time.Don't let them fool you.We wasted time and gas money.

Call from phone number 1-(866) 430-3177
You are awinner It is our pleasure to inform/invite you to our 90 minute hospitality presentation on discount travel along with various travel opportunities at 1425 Tri-State Parkway Unit 130 in Gurnee IL, through Anchor Bay Travel. After your presentation you will receive your Sweepstakes Scratch Ticket and you’re guaranteed to receive one of our four major gifts, just for attending. You DON’T have to buy, join, or sign-up for ANYTHING, to receive your gift! One of these gifts will be on your scratch off card………..

1. Brand New Ford Escape or $25,000 in cash, your choice.
2. $2,500 in Cash
3. Vacation.-3 days 2 nights Orlando or Las Vegas vacation including    round trip airfare for 2 adults.                          
4.  32”Flat screen Color TV.

Got a message about a sweepstakes I entered in the mall  Called back and was told it was a promotion for travel agencies and in order to claim my prize had to listen to a presentation on travel for about an hour and a half. I asked very direct questions about what this all entails. I understand its to sell vacation packages.Drove out and went with the wife and listened to them ramble for about an hour. Got a scratch card & certificate to Olive Garden for $50. The gift I won was for a $399 HD TV from Sharp, still thought it was too good to be true, til I saw a man from the back coming out with about 7 Tvs! And I got one of them sons of [***]! I wasnt thrilled about hanging out for an hour but Id say it was worth it. Make sure u get something in writing before u decide to go,

nick did you go to the location in Gurnee??

I didn't get the call from the above number but it was the same address the same sales pitch. The number that called me was: 708-620-4431 - Brittany, I to call back and got an answering machine.
This is a big scam. After we were there our credit card was being used all over the US. I really think they have over head cameras or the scanned the card somehow. DONT GO TO THESE SCAM!!

Don't even bother with this flim flam operation......it is a hoax....bait and switch.  don't bother wasting your time, energy and gas money to go visit this [***] gig.  this place does not pass the stink test....it smells REAL bad.  just call them back and tell them to take you off there list.  forgetaboutit.

I got a similar call from this number and now I am going to ignore it after reading these posts. If they call me again, I will tell them to take me off their list. Thanks for sharing all your experiences.

I got a call from a Emily, about how I won a free trip from a raffle I put in at a Bridal Expo I went to. I do not remember ever putting in for any raffle so I knew it seemed suspicious. When I tried to google the agency I got nothing. Luckly I found this site so now we know it is either a scam or for a time share. Either way I am not waisting my time, it does not seem legit to me. Especially when she said she would give me a 150$ gas card to drive to Gurnee, IL. I would be careful!!!

Thank you posters just got a call from this number, Same MO as above I was almost in unit i started ready this post.

I want to thank everyone for their posts!!!  The theme is the same throughout.  Although I was given a different  # 630-474-9956, the song is the same.  Brittney at "Americas Travel Agents" at the same address of 1425 Tri-State Parkway Unit 130  in Gurnee, IL and told me we won a vacation.  After reading this, I'm not going to waste my time or my patience.  THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!!

I got a call from Sabrina at 630-793-9849, said I had one a trip to vegas at a 3 star and above hotel on the strip all I had to do was coming to the Gurnee office to pick up my certificate and it was good for a year.  Would take about an hour and a half.... Very pushy about me coming in so I wondered if it was a scam.  Thanks for all your postings.

I got the same call about winning the free vacation from an entry at the recent auto show -- which I did attend.  Thanks everyone for the posts.  It is a long drive and I'm glad to know of your experiences.  I'm going to skip it as well.

Same here...recently attended the auto show and I did fill out a raffle. Brittany from 630-474-9956 says I won a vacation...mama always said, "if its too good to be true...". Lets see what they say when they call back.

"Claire" called saying we had been selected from drawings going on from over 300 locations around the country, from an entry that could have been made over 12 months ago for Direct Buy. Since I have been to home builder / remodeling type shows I thought it might be legit, so I was happy to have read the above rather than go through a bunch of rigamarole. She has a very confident manner about her and is very convincing speech. Thank you everyone above to take the trouble to inform unsuspecting souls. 219 940-9235 was the number she called from.