Bill Russells secretary is at it again.  As of now, June 2013, the prize is a 2013 Dodge Durango.  I've gotten several calls all saying the same thing... call us back, you are the finalist and have "definitely won 1 of 4 prizes".  I waited until after hours to call the number and got the same voicemail message, "you have reached the desk of Bill Russell.  Leave your name and phone number and I'll call you back in 5 minutes." Dear old Bill Russell (or his secretary)  is still trying to pull this scam. Thanks to all that are spreading the word of this scam and especially to the notice from Sarai (3 Sept 2008) which is above who went through the trouble of finding out what Bill Russell is doing.

Here is what this actually about - it is ITC, or International Travel Centers, a travel agency that requires you to join in order to be eligible for their benefits. I also won the Ford Escape - knowing it was a scam, I went just to see what it was all about.
They require you to come to their sales presentation, they pitch the product, then send you off with an individual sales agent who tries to get you to sign up. At the pitch, they tell you that the initial fee is $7995 plus $495 registration fee and $299 annual fee. Once you get in the one-on-one, the price drops to $3995. And if you still say no, the price drops of $79 per month for 12 months. Imagine if you expressed interest at $7995!
When you still say no, they bring you your "prize" - a scratch-off ticket that reveals what you won. The odds of winning the Escape are 1:50,000; $2500 cash odds are 7:50,000; the 32" flat screen TV odds are 50:50,000; the "vacation" odds are 49,942:50,000, so guess which one everybody wins?
They give you a "vacation selection" and direct you to the website www.codevacation.com. This shows you the different vacations that are available. And guess what? These "free" vacations carry all kinds of fees. For example, the 7-day condo stay carries a $35 processing fee, then a $189 per person reservation fee, so the "Free" vacation costs over $400.
The 3-day cruise requires that you select two "preferred" date with at least 30 days between each date. At the time of booking, $249 per person for port/service fees and cruise taxes, totaling $498 for this "free" vacation. There are other options as well, but all carry similar processing fees, and most require alternate date preferences as well.
My question is, if this prize carries so many hidden fees, I wonder what kind of fees are charged to members who try to take advantage of the "low-price" deals when they join for somewhere between $7995 and $79 per month!

Same thing asking to dial back @ 877-258-8571 and promoting  Ford Explorer prize.

It is now a Ford Escape or 4 other large prizes.

Same deal,

but it's a Ford Escape now.

Same Deal from 866 859 0483 on 9/15/2011

Got the same call today...wanted me to call 866.965.6374...big scam...bunch of low lifes.  After the lady told me I was a winner she told me to call the 866 number and then said "God bless you". They need a lot of God to help them.

I just received a call with exactly the same scam from the phone number 866-215-6066, with Bill Russell as the 'prize director'.  So, beware that number as well.

Same message, same scam...you would think these fools would use different information. (it's Lincoln Navigator here too).  Bottom line, if you don't remember entering a contest, you did'nt! Good luck and stay vigilant.

I was told to call Mister Russell at 1 877 592-9893 for one of 4 major prizes that I won in a raffle. I didn't think it was real, mostly because they were calling my WORK phone and confirmed my WORK address and I certainly don't use those for any "prize entry" forms. This happened today, 7/30/2010.

I figured it was a hoax, but it's still really disappointing. We need a new car. Thought maybe it was a gift from the God who's name they keep abusing.

The new number that they are using is 866-202-0148. but the same VM and same Bill Russell with the Winey voice.

My VM message was calling my daugher.  They had her name, address, phone number and and old AOL email address.  The caller identified himself as Charlie Page, and gave the same song about a contest being over and her ticket was a winner.  Prize was a Navigator or other prizes.  I returned the call at 1-866-223-5315 and got Bill Russell's vm message.  "This is time sensitive information, so leave me a message and I'll call you back in 5 minutes".  So glad I Googled this number and thanks for tracking this.

I got exactly same prize phone call stated by Craig, Libby and Maria above. The numbers were: 1-866-223-5315 and 773-622-8556 on caller id. I also called anyway, still thinking it could be a scam but since I was actually looking for vehicles for the last months I thought I perhaps did an entry for a car at a dealer's website. But still, I decided to do a search. That's how I found this website. I'm glad you people are posting all of these.

Woman (April Johnson) left a message on my answering machine with my actual address and email...but my wife's name. Also said I won a Lincoln Navigator  or other prize. Called the 866 number and got the same whiny voice representing the "Prize Committee". I did not leave a message.

Happy New Year. Unfortunately, the scammers weasled into the new year, as well. I had a message on my vm from a Diane foster with the Prize Committee addressing my full name, address and an old email address (indirectly affiliated with me). She advised that I was the winner of a Lincoln Navigator and to call 1-866-223-5315 to claim my prize. Upon calling the number, a vm immediately began with a Bill Russell acknowledging this was the correct number to claim your prize and asked for caller to leave a message to receive a callback in approximately 5 minutes. I did not leave a msg nor did I callback.

My parents got a call from these people too saying they won an online contest.  It was in my father's name and he has never even had an email address or used email.  Luckily they called me to see what it is about because they did not leave a company number.  Thank you all for sharing the info so I do not need to investigate further - Diane Foster be very ashamed!

I got the exact same call on my cellphone today and when I asked the "assistant," to Mr. Russell about the overwhelming number of postings about this number, she asked me to "hold on a minute," and then, hung up.

Follow-up to my above comment. I continued to do some searching and found another website where people have reported bogus phone calls, and one of the people had actually gone through the steps to find out what was going on. Here are excerpts from her postings:

Other comments:

Dawn - 22 Jul 2008
The call went as the others said, Diane Foster said I had definitly won a prize, possibly a Lincoln Navigator.  I couldn't talk right then so she left a voice mail and I called Bill Russell and left my name & number.  He called me back, I asked where he was (Chicago) but he said Illinois wrong.  I grew up there.  His accent and pronunciation were wrong.  He reiterated the info and had his assistant call me back.  She explained that Sunshine Travel was doing this give away instead of advertising coz it was less expensive and actually got people's attention.  I got all the information from them including a confirmation letter.  We are going to go to this thing and listen for 90 minutes, leaving our house guarded just in case.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Dawn - 24 Jul 2008
This is an update to the last email so y'all would know what you missed.  I went last night to claim my prize, listened to their well-done, 90 minute presentation about how I could benefit from their $9500 life-time, inheritable vacation package.  After they do the presentation and try to come up with some way to help you pay for it, including forfeiting your prize (the one that if you take this option you don't even get to know what it was), you get to draw for your prize.  Here's the hitch:  They printed 50,000 entries.  One Navigator, 7 $2500 cash prizes, and 50 TVs.  The other 49,942 prizes were the vacation of your choosing from a selection of 85 resorts, which had to be taken off peak time and cost you $70 to activate the certificate and $150 to $199 per person (2 person minimum) for the 911 surcharge.  

It is my belief that they scrounge email addresses from lead sellers who get their info from us when we fill out those forms on surveys and things.  You know the ones where they have you answer a bunch of questions to get your opinion or the "you've won a prize" things where you have to give them you email address etc. so you can get your prize (if your name is drawn from the millions who enter).  The information lead retrievers get is not always reliable (people lie on those things all the time) and sometimes it is old info.

I received this call at my work place and they referenced my personal e-mail account name. The woman said I had entered to win a Lincoln Navigator and when I asked from what business, she said she didn't know, that she was just at the prize notification center. She said to call Mr. Russell and gave me the number and then wished me a good day and God Bless. I tried looking up the number in reverse directory using several search engines and could find nothing, so eventually I typed the number and got to this page.

I CALLED1 866-5346599 BILL RUSSELL THIS IS A SCAM.  DO NOT GIVE ANY INFO TO THESE CREEPS!!!

i called Bill Russell and he called back in 5 minutes wanting to erify some info, I said that I had checked this # and that it came back as a scam-SURPRISE!!!He hung up on me.  So figure it is a scam.  They had my home address, phone and e-mail.  Tell Mr Russell-it's a scam, you'll get rid of him quick!

recieved a call from 773-622-8556 saying to call   1-866-516-7311 i  won a prize.  how they got my email have no idea. i didn't bother calling them  back .. there should be a law on this . i am also on the do not call list so this list sure doesn't work

Even I received exactly same call on my cell phone.

I received a voicemail from a woman named Diane stating I was a finalist in winning a Lincoln Navigator. My caller ID showed the call came in from 773-622-8628. In the voicemail she stated my name, my previous mailing address, along with an older email address I rarely use. When I called the telephone number back there was a voicemail from Bill Russell from the Prize Committee requesting I leave my telephone number and he would return the call in 5 minutes. I thought maybe this was something from the book club I had signed up for the year before, so I made the mistake of leaving my number.  A few minutes later I received a call back from "Diane" stating she was Bill Russell's secretary. She started asking about my telephone number's area code since she was not familiar with it, and asking me to confirm the state I currently live in. My mailing address and phone numbers are in 2 different states.  When I asked what her call was regarding she said I had entered my name into a sweepstakes within the past year, and I had been selected as a finalist.  She said there was a company with a grand opening that was giving out a Lincoln Navigator and 3 other prizes, and that I was a gauranteed to win one of the prizes.  She then said she needed to verify some other information and would return my call in a few minutes. I asked for the name of the company she represented and it was difficult to understand as the phone was breaking up. Immediately after disconnecting the call I looked online for the telephone number she called from (773) 326-1043. I found many websites stating it was a scam. I attempted to reach the main number provided (866) 534-6599 and was brought back to the same message from Bill Russell requesting I leave my phone number for a call back within 5 minutes. This is definately a SCAM! I will be reporting this to the Do Not Call Registry, and I suggest you do the same if you have you number listed.

This is a big time scam do not give out any info...they also are a tella marketer they will spread your info if you give it to them.....DON"T DO IT

Also got this phone Call 1-866-516-7311 From Joseph Banderas (Caller ID says Prize Comm 1-773-622-8628.  Telling me that I had also won a 2009 Lincoln Navigator or other Prize. Called 1-866-516-7311 and got VM of Bill Russell Prize Director- (whiney, little Nerdy voice).  Asked me to leave my telephone #.  I didn't leave a message.  Called th3 1-773-622-8628 phone # twice- conveniently busy. The e-mail address cited in my VM that I recieved was also an old e-mail address, that I don't normally use, however it is still active and I checked this old e-mail- HA!  nothing there.  How do you spell S-C-A-M.  DO NOT FALL FOR THIS CROCK.   I have also read that they ask for e-mail password and then a couple hours later your computer crashes, don't know how true that is, but still this smells like BULL.