Ahhh no way... but they specifically said it WASN'T a timeshare??  I just got this call 10 min ago and found this site with a quick google... debating whether or not to call them back, restricted # was def a turn off, curious what the deal is tho

I got a text message from 63273 that read

"Thx 4 visiting our site Call 877-309-3980 to Claim Your $40 Gas Card! Txt STOP 2 quit."

(And yes, that was the exact grammar used in the text.)

Same call, same message, not doing it. Never submitted entry or gave out cell number. Caller ID said "Restricted" < immediate red flag for me.

Got the same recorded message on my cellphone.  I filed a complaint with the FCC.  I suggest everyone do the same.  The FCC Complaint form is at

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

Got the same call 11/10/11 and same info as everyone has suggested. Looking at all the messages ppl are leaving here, this obviously has been going on for some time now...

I received the same call.  It came up as a Private Number on my cell.  1. My number has changed since last year 2. it was a person who called herself Ann from the Reward Notification Department of America West stating i won a trip for 2 on Carnival or Royal Carribean 7 nights, 8 days.  She said no timeshare or obligation was involved and also messed up on her verbage she was reading off of.

"America West", caller named "Ann". Baltimore. Same message.

Check out the detailed story by "Vacationer" from DC on the 888-460-9020 page of this web site. He actually went to the seminar in DC, found out the deal (a bait-and-switch), and did a lot of research about the company and its affiliates. Not a scam, per se, but by no means "free"!

Here's a link to "Vacationer"'s post: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-460-9020/2 .

I got the same message as every one else.  It appeared as "blocked" on my screen.  She said that the call was from America West.  I never entered a contest.  This is probably a scam.

Received the same call. New York city.

Got the same call....has to be a scam.  Nothing is ever free!!

Yea I just got a call from the same no. 4a 7-day free cruise on the carnival or princess royal cruise line. Can fly to Miami fort lauderdale or drive to Baltimore. Haven't entered any contests to win this trip though....am thinking is either fraud or promotional trip. Can pretty much figure it will cost something since nothing in this world is free. Lol

Received same voice message about a 7-8 day cruise... Have no idea where they got my number.  Annoying.

Thanks for putting your feedback out there all, I just played this same recording, all the way down to the stumbled words! Glad I looked here first, I was tempted enough by an almost free vaca that I would've sat through the presentation! Honestly, if I made 60k/yr I'd be able to afford my own cruise, lol!

The girl messed up the city on my call too (voicemail). Quite hilarious, didn't buy it for a sec

same same-

It does appear to be recorded since the same stumble is often mentioned.

Similar experience here.  Mine was tailored for Baltimore (my area).  I never answer blocked / unknown calls, and if you plan to call potential scammers back, its always best to do so with *67, or even better, spoof your number to be their number.  That way, if they are just looking to add numbers to a list of people to bother, maybe they will begin to bother themselves  :)  Either way "Anna" tripped over her words alot.  A prerecorded voicemail should sound more professional than this.  Scammer or not.

3 links to the same voicemail: mp3, 300kB

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LI5OPYQ7
http://www.mediafire.com/?anu9ip2ujx51k3m
http://www.mediafire.com/file/anu9ip2ujx51k3m/YouMail_BLOCKED_Sep_13_2011.mp3

Thanks, Vacationater, I owe you a couple hours of my life :-)
I won't be attending. I love to cruise, and sitting through the presentation would be worth it if the "prize" was as advertised. But if I have to pay $700 for a "free" cruise, not so much.

yea that lday was prettty scarey with her voice. she was waaaaayyy too excited. i didnt answer cuz i was sleeping so i just ignored it but the lady couldnt even finish the message on my voicemail..... so i googled the number and found this page and everyones comments are exactly what she said on my voicemail

Just got this phone call.  Ann from America West Awards notification center telling me all I have to do is go to a travel agency 'reception' in Georgetown DC and then pick up vouchers for 2 adults to go on a 8 day 7 night cruise, royal carribean or carnival.  Sounds like a lot of work for a free cruise.

Just got this same call and did a Google Search.  Found this webpage.  I am glad I DID NOT call back.  Sounded like a Timeshare BS or something.

Got call at 11:30 AM on 8 Sep 2011. Caller ID blocked. Voicemail message stating I had entered an America West contest last year and that I had been selected to receive a free 7 day 8 night cruise on either Carnival or Royal Caribbean cruise line, and a flight from the nearest international airport to catch the cruise. Or I could drive to Baltimore and pick up the cruise there.

Callback # 877-309-1115

VM was scripted and likely done by an actor as the message was VERY polished, even including a little bit of a stumble to suggest it was real. I didn't answer, so I don't know if it was a recording or not.

I was immediately skeptical as I never give out my cell phone number since I don't want to be hassled by marketers. And I would never have given it to America West, which is one of my least favorite airlines to put it mildly. It's also worth noting that it no longer exists as it was acquired by US Airways in 2005. So anyone claiming to be calling from America West is indeed a scammer.

Got a similar message, but I think it was an actual person reading a script and maybe even trying to sound like a recording, but the girl on this message messed up and said the wrong city and then corrected herself.

I just received a call from this same number & a woman left a message on my cell.. Also stating my spouse & I won a free round trip with carnival cruise from a draw I put in for last year. Sounds like a fake & total scam.. Never put in for a cruise. She also stated it wasn't a time share . She even messed up or her message lol. Unkown number. This many people did NOT win a free cruise.. SCAM

Call from 877-309-1115
promising vouchers for airfare and 7/8 day cruise
had to go to Washington Harbor to pick up such
in return for listening to a presentatiion on their (unnamed) travel service.
Might be for real but don't want to drive to DC and be captive for a presentation.

They are really slick.

I got a robocall (presumably) voicemail on my VOIP business line offering the presentation and free cruise/airline tix too; I responded and got the precise recording that "emily" posted on 7/12/11.  The respond within 24 hours is a total hook, as I called back over a few days to try and get a convenient timeslot.  I left 2-3 messages, with no call back to confirm.  

My radar went up upon reading these posts, so I checked it out as much as I could online, but could find nothing about "American West", nor could I locate 901 31st St,NW online.  Anyway, I went figuring that if it was non-existent, I could still enjoy dinner with my wife on the Georgetown waterfront.  Plus I had another errand to run closeby that evening.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the address is real, and there were a couple signs reading "Virgin Marketing Group" leading into an office suite where the sales show happens.  You go through ID check, fill out a [sales lead] sheet, are then escorted by a [feeler] into the war room where they small talk you until the main presenter shows.  The "refreshments" are water and coffee, period. He professionally presents a vacation club membership which seems enticing, but goes for $8,995, then at the end, the closers come in and tag-team you until you give in and buy, or tell them no firmly a few times.  We said no, were escorted into war room #2, waited a few minutes then were presented with our vouchers.  You can judge on the product's value, I think it's way too pricey to be part of a discount travel club wholesaler (Gold Crown Resorts), especially if you already have a timeshare(s) like we do.

A few notes: It seems that the companies' names are changed frequently to confuse customers and to hedge against liability(?).  You're robo-called by "american west" but the presenter is "virgin marketing group" and the certificates are processed by "Eagles Choice".  Seems like a lot of misdirection to me.

You do get the vouchers, BUT, there is a "$49 activation fee" per person (a total gouge), plus you're warned that taxes, fuel charges, "service fees", etc. can total "$179-$288" per person.  Thus, there is nothing "free" about these vouchers. Very much a bait and switch.  Plus, the voucher reads nothing about an "outside cabin" for which every cruiseline charges much more.

The airfare voucher similarly requires an "activation fee" of $35 per person, and warns of taxes, fuel charges, "service fees", etc. can total "$50-65" per person; again, not free at all.

The company you send the "activation fee" to (Eagles Choice) is at least registered and active with the state of VA, and appears legit, also has a decent website with a telephone number.

As for "American West", no trace of them has been found online by me as of now.  "Virgin Marketing" is not registered with the DC Corporations Office to exist or do business in DC.  Virgin's address shows up in online yellow pages as the same as Sunshine Promotions, LLC, which has a bad rep online.  Plus the telephones for Sunshine and Virgin are almost identical and probably ring in the same room.  Sunshine's tel. no. has a recording that informs they are no longer doing business in DC, but allows for messages.  Virgin's number is busy, and reportedly is constantly busy.

The way I see it, American west and Virgin are baiting and switching, and might be violating local and federal consumer laws while at it.  The vouchers are not what was promised on the robocall (which I recorded and listened to afterwards for comparison), and these companies should pay the difference to make good on their promise.  After all, if I had known what I know now about these silly vouchers, I probabaly would not have spent the time, gas, and energy to go to the presentation.

I encourage others who have had a similar experience to post on this website so that we can share information on these guys and try to level the playing field.  I'll post more to this and other relevant websites to try and spread the word.

In sum, it is an actual presentation in a real place, with an overpriced product and high-pressure sales, but the incentives that lure you in are not as promised.  I would not use the word "scam" (yet), but it's definitely "buyer beware."

i just got the same call on my cell, saying that me or one of my family members had filled out an entry form, and that i had won my choice of either roundtrip tickets to miami or an 8 day 7 night cruise originating in baltimore... no mention of olive garden or $50 vouchers, and i live outside of DC, nowhere near rochester, ny. also, they asked me to call that same toll-free number within 24 hours to redeem it. any thoughts?

Now, it's a 7 night/8 day Carribean Cruise from Baltimore OR my spouse and I could fly (America West) to Florida to shove off from Cape Canaveral or Miami with either Royal Carribean or Carnival Cruise Line.    We just have to respond within 24 hrs and meet go to Georgetown - DC to pick up our vouchers.  Yes, we'd have to pay taxes, alcohol, gambling, Well I'll be.

I got the call yesterday on my cell. then today again on my work cell. So, they must have gotten it from something I filled out but honestly I can't even remember. It's the same lady on the message, pre recorded as she messes up at the same exact spot and it's cut off at the same exact place.

Definitely a scam of some sort .... I nvr entered a contest for a cruise . 2nd time I got the voicemail too . I don't answer restricted #'s and then when the voice mail popped up I listened to it . Kinda funny too , the lady is clearly reading ( not very well either ) off a card and if u listen to it all the way through , she messes up at the end and just hangs up . LOL
I just called the # back from a work phone . Same lady on the message talkin bout a cruise from Baltimore to St. Thomas or the Virgin Islands with an outside cabin . Not a time share , no obligation , You pay ur air fare , and buy your own alcohol . Gotta meet the requirements which include $62,000 annual income . lol
She's talkin to fast . If you go through the whole menu and push 2 to not recieve calls she does another message and messes up again .... Haha  "to remove your name from our call list , please state your name and telephone ..... I'm sorry ..... Just your telephone number"
I'm actually amused at the lengths some ppl will go to setting this stuff up .