UPDATE [August 30, 2011]: Tony Mitchell has threatened to sue me for criticizing him on my blog. Read all the details here, and please consider chipping in a few bucks to help cover my legal defense. Thanks!
UPDATE [February 7, 2011]: As others have noted, they’re now making calls under a third name, “Vandell Communications”. I can confirm that’s how they’re spelling the name because, for some inexplicable reason, @VandellCom followed me briefly yesterday on Twitter before unfollowing me. D’oh!
UPDATE [November 30, 2010]: If you receive one of these calls, please report it to both the National Do Not Call Registry and the FCC. The latter is more likely to result in action against the caller, but it’s important to file both complaints.
UPDATE [November 7, 2010]: Please see my Open letter to Tony Mitchell, the owner of Mitchell Communication Group, a.k.a., Faithful Marketing.
UPDATE [October 29, 2010]: When this article was first published, on August 6, 2010, they were “Mitchell Communication(s) Group”, but now they’re “Faithful Marketing”. They’ve changed their name, but not their modus operandi. I’ve updated the title to reflect the new name, but I’ve otherwise left the article as originally posted.
Got a scam call today I wanted to let other people know about.
The caller ID was “Gorden Leslie” with the phone number 773-891-5581. Here’s a transcript of the message:
Hi, this is Patrick calling from Mitchell Communications Group. I have made numerous attempts to reach you [lie!] regarding an entry form that was filled out in your name within the last 12 to 18 months to receive a new car. [probable lie!] This will be my final attempt to notify that your name was pulled and you’re going to receive one of our top four major prizes. It would be in your best interest to give me a call back as soon as possible. The number is toll free at 1-877-279-3457 extension 243. We’re not a telemarketing agency [lie!] or a timeshare and this is not a cold call so please do not ignore this message. I’m very aware of the do not call list so I wouldn’t be calling unless you actually entered. [lie!] This is a time sensitive matter I do look forward to hearing from you. Once again congratulations my name is Patrick.
Just for kicks, I called back and was connected to a woman who identified herself as “Rhonda, your prize coordinator.”
She asked for my name and phone number. I told her that it sounded an awful lot like a scam, so to prove she was telling the truth about my filling out a contest entry form, she’d have to give me back my name if I gave her my number. She got all defensive and said it wasn’t her job to “prove” anything to me. Needless to say, this proved that it’s a scam, since a real, legitimate contest wouldn’t hesitate to prove that you’d actually entered. I decided to play along and gave her my name and phone number.
I took notes for the remainder of the call. Here are some highlights that I managed to jot down:
- She said “top three major prizes,” in contrast to “Patrick’s” four major prizes.
- She claimed that I had filled out an entry form at a “mall, sporting event or festival” 12 to 18 months ago and “the contest is now closed” and I’d been selected as a winner.
- She said the three prizes were:
- 1st: 2010 Ford Expedition or $25,000;
- 2nd: fly and stay holiday (she went into lots of detail about this; guess what the prize everybody wins is!); and
- 3rd: 27″ flat-screen television.
- She said my wife and I had to go in person to find out what we’d won and sit through a 90-minute “award celebration and presentation” for the “grand opening of a new travel agency.” She claimed that the name of the travel agency was “GCI Travel”.
- The address she gave for the presentation was 800 South Main Street, Mansfield, Mass.
- No children or guests would be allowed to attend the presentation with us.
- We had to bring two forms of ID — a driver’s license and a major credit card — with us. “These are for identification purposes only and will never leave your hands.”
- She gave us a claim number, MCG534.
- She said we had to agree to let them publicize us if we won the car or we wouldn’t receive it.
- She claimed that I’d indicated on the entry form that I was married, over a certain age (I think it was 25 but don’t remember for certain) and make $60,000 per year. She said we would have to fill out another survey at the prize event and if the information didn’t match we wouldn’t receive the prize.
- She tried very hard to convince us that this wasn’t a scam. She said the point of the contest was to make us feel good about this travel agency so that maybe we’d give them our business later, although there was of course no obligation. The phrases “you don’t have to buy, sign or join anything,”, “nothing to be skeptical about,” “we’re not here to waste your time,” “just trying to show you guys a nice time,” and “no trick no hoax no scam” were all used.
- She said she was going to fax or email us a letter with confirmation of all this information and we would have to sign and bring it back with us.
- She said we could go to pick up our prize tomorrow (yes, tomorrow!).
- When I told her my wife was out of the country for the next several weeks, she first asked if there was another married couple that could attend and claim the prize on our behalf, and then asked if my wife could fly back into town for the day to claim the prize and then fly back to wherever she was (really!). She said that once the Ford Expedition was won, the prize drawings would be over.
- When I told her that no, neither of those was really an option, she gave me her phone number (877-249-6405 ext. 126) and told me to call her back when my wife was back in town. She said she wasn’t going to send us the confirmation letter until then. It’s a shame; I really wanted to see it just for kicks (and to get more information about the scam).
Interesting fact: According to Google maps, one of the companies that does business at that address is “Premium Destinations Northeast.” Hmm.
I can’t find anything definitive on-line about a travel agency named “GCI Travel”. But I think in fact they’re a timeshare company.
I filed a complaint with donotcall.gov and the FCC (both are important). I’m pretty sure this is a timeshare scam, and I’m also pretty sure their phone call to me was a violation of the do-not-call law.
Just got home from work and got the same message so I for giggles called back and spoke to Patrick… Apparently David was in a meeting and Patrick was handling his calls lol… Patrick went on and on about the same thing as the rest of you… It’s funny how 4 people win yet many many many get calls getting told they won… I will make a complaint also
http://www.insidethegate.com/tag/premium-destinations-north-east/
Good one! How did you find that?
I got the same call on 10/9/10 from a lady named OCTAVIA calling from
773-358-1470 and asking me to call her back at 877-249-6405 ext 110
these people need to get nailed somehow. thanks for the tip….
Got the same call today. Pretty obvious that it is a scam to get you to listen to some kind of presentation to buy some kind of overpriced program that you would not buy otherwise. Always a new wrinkle in scamming people.
SAME AS ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!! IM SO MAD
Hmmm….we should all bombard them with harrassing phone calls on the same day as a group and really let them know how much we love their schemes and lies!
I RECEIVED THE SAME RECORDING, BUT FROM DAVID ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8TH. THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP.
Got the same call from a David on 7 October. Thanks so much for broadcasting your story. Now I know not to waste my time.
I got the Patrick call at 5 pm today. Still not clear what they are trying to get out of this, but I really don’t want to know. Thanks for these posts so I could confirm it’s fishy.
I received the same call oct 8, 2010 from Patrick. Same Message. Didn’t call them back
Thanks everyone for the heads up…I’m in Mobile, AL and I too received a call from David of Mitchell Communications but he told me he represented Grand Crown Resorts and my claim # is MCG529. I supposededly entered some form in the mall and had won 1 or 4 prizes…I’m waiting on the email he promised to send but it hasn’t shown up. Of course he said it was a time sensitive matter and I would have to be there on tomorrow @ 6pm to claim my prize. Anyways I didn’t give out any info other than my email address, but just glad that I got on the computer to do some research b4 I wasted my time and burnt up a tank of gas going over to Biloxi for nothing because I’m not interested in purchasing any timeshares and I sure as heck don’t need somebody pulling no identity theft stunts!
Just got the same call as everyone else, from Kathleen, and was suspicious right away. Thought it was interesting, though, that she mentioned “I am very aware of the Do Not Call list, and would not be calling unless you actually entered” and can see how people might fall for it when they say things like that. It’s unreal that they can get away with this! In my Google search for Mitchell Communication Group I also found this website http://mitchellcommunicationgroupllc.com/. I’d say that this low-budget, amateur website gives it away that it’s just a scam!
These scammers are using 773-891-5637 now. Just received a garbled message with the same word-for-word pitch as the first poster. When will they be shut down?
We got the same call from David Mirchell, same number and ex 243. Except when I called them they gave me to someone else. He said the same things word for word about the prizes, and gave me a Claim # of 535. But when he said, we made $60, 000 dollars a year I told him no that we are retired. He told me that changed everything, that I should have read the entry form and known that all information had to be correct at the time of winning. Oh poor me!. I told him that I knew that this was a scam and that I was going to report them and he hung up real fast. These people have some nerve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the info……Good Homework! Received the same “David” voicemail today, and was VERY, VERY excited being an avid sweepstaker. Glad I went online and investigated this…. Mitchell Communication Group and finding your post. Still keeping my fingers crossed for a REAL win.
David said the exact thing to me. I called the number he called from and got a recorded message from Mitchell Communications Group. I googled the business and found this site. thanks for posting!
Yep, just got a voicemail from David at Ext. 243. Knew it was a scam but like so many others I went along with it. Called the number back and it was Mitchell Communications Group and they said I won a 2010 Lincoln Navigator or $45,000 in cash. The guy said they were hired by Infinite LLC. I haven’t Googled that company yet. The guy on the phone gave me Confirmation #MCG591. I just told him thanks but no thanks and he hung up…
I got the same call but the name given to call back was David at ext 243, and then I got a call from a Chantell at the same 1877# but ext. 125. All the same info about winning a prize and all.
Got the same voice mail from David ext. 243 Word for Word October 6, 2010. We can only hope that this organization and others like this one are shut down by donotcall.gov. Thanks for all the comments…..
I to have been contacted a few times from 2 different people claiming the same thing and i told them i thought it was a scam from the start but agreed to go to hagerstown and guess what 3 men where there in a empty room and told me and my husband the hotel lost all of their belongings and they were so sorry and gave me a gift card to use for $100.00 but im sure its no good.they wanted me to come this sat instead but guess what i might be dumb the start time but not the second.the all thing sounds real fishy. I dont know what they really want but dont give out any information it bad enough they have our phone #s and addresses.some girl called me right after to aske me about the great prize i got and i told her what prize they had nothing there and she ask me waht happen and i told her and she said she would call me back when she got to the bottom of it with her supervisor guess what havent heard anything and i dont want to.when you have a bad feeling from the start,it trying to tell us to stay away.dont fall for it.
Got same call glad I checked tis out. First time in my life I almost fell for the scam
Ditto the message from Patrick. He left it on my answering machine at 10:16 AM on 10/5/10. Thank you all for posting your comments; you saved me from this insidious aggravation. As a single parent, completely broke and always stressed, a victim of identity theft that just won’t quit, I felt lucky for a moment. Maybe a concerned relative had entered my name in a car raffle with the hope of replacing my 200,000+ 12 year old model? No such luck. I have to wonder if this scam has something to do with the identity theft. Fortunately, I have met more good-hearted people in this world than those, like these scam artists, who are not.
Got the same call from David who had tried several times to reach me concerning a new 2010 Ford Explorer that I had won, (Yeah, Right). I called the number back: 1-877-279-3457 xt 243. David was at lunch and another lady was taking all of his calls. Wanted me to go to Biloxi, MS on a Thursday at 3 pm and be certain to bring my wife. Needed two forms of ID, drivers license and a major credit card but was told I would not have to use them for anything else, (Yeah, Right Again).
Who are these people and how in the world are they allowed to continue to call and spew this scam day after day afte day?
i called royal resorts who mitchell communications claimed to be representing. royal resorts told me they had no affiliation with the company and it was probably a scam.I talked to multiple people and supervisors. All ended up hanging up just saying i was wrong. They gave me no info on anything and were very vague.
LOLZ, I got the same call late last evening. I thought about it and as an Email admin for a large corporation, I know about scammers. I checked/googled the Mitchell Comm Grp. and found this. They won’t be getting a call from me. Although very convincing, as we should all know, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true!”
Got the exact same call from David. Thank you for posting this. It saved all of us and many others from this scam!
These folks are really busy. I received the same message last night on my voice mail. Since I’ve only had the phone number a few weeks, I knew it wasn’t what he claimed it to be. I couldn’t understand the name of the company on the message, so I called the number they gave me. It is Mitchell Communication Group. I hung up as soon as I learned the company name and searched on line for the company. There I found this post. Thanks for posting and hopefully others will find it before getting caught up in yet another scam.
Same message to the teeth only a change of address 2046 West Beach,Ms
haha it so funny cause i was looking over the info here as spoke it to me. Thanks a Millionor should i say Thanks a Ford LMAO.
I recieved the same call last week, called them back and Patrick was in a meeting, he is one busy SOB. I was put on the line with Jarret who told me that I was a prize winner of a Ford Expedition or $25,000.00. The drawing was postponed and I would have to call him back on Monday in order to claim my prize. I would be given instructions of were to go to in Hagerstown MD. for the interview.
I am glad that I did my homework before buying into the BS and searched Mitchell Communications Group and seen your blog.
Thanks so much for the heads up. I too will report them to the do not call list.
We were called multiple times today. I talked to the lady got her to almost admit she wasn’t legit. I was offered the same prize at a casino in biloxi, Mississippi. I would recommend not to answer this call.
Got a call about 3 days ago. Exact same thing word for word from David ext 243. I am so glad for the internet. Got suspicious and decided to look up this Mitchell Communication Group and found this post. Thank you very much!
Just got the same messages left on my phone. Thank you for the post.
I got the same call on Sunday. Thank you for the info.
Recieved the same call about a year ago. And decided no to attend. I just recieved another call and thought I’ll google this to see if it is a scam. And sure enough it is. I don’t have the time to go sit with some commission hungry sales rep who wants to sell me whatever I don’t need. My advise is if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn’t. Don’t waste your time for a gift that you earned for sitting through 90 minutes of why you need something. You really don’t!
I got the same call from David on my answering machine. Thanks for the heads up.
I GOT THE SAME CALL……I GLAD I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE FIRST! THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO POST THEIR COMMENTS!!
Just received this call this morning from “Michael.” He actually left the message on my voice mail…what nerve! I have filed a complaint with the donotcall.gov
Got the exact same call, but when I called back I got an answering service. Thanks so much for posting about this scam
I got the exact same message. Thanks for the heads up.
Oct 1, 2010
Received same message on machine also, called back talked to John
asked him if he was sure this was true yes do
not have time to playpeople. I was like this is crazy ask him what place I filled form out at
he was not sure, ask if husband and I make 50k year said yes cause I was excited thought about it said no I don’t make 50k John said no not just you. You and your husband together then I figure something was not right . Since when an entry form as far as I know ask how much you make. Had friend check on computer and read up on you guys Thanks so much for posting your comments helps others.
Just got the exact same call from Patrick… UGH! But, I didn’t answer, just a voice mail and I’m complaining as well.
My wife and I supected that this was a scam to begin with, but returned the call from “Daryl” just in case we might have won something from “The Price is Right” TV show, which runs call-in contests almost daily. Alas, this was no such pleasure!
I couldn’t understand this “Daryl” on the phone, as he had a rather strange accent, so I gave the phone to my wife who has better hearing capacity. She could barely understand “Daryl,” but thought he might have had an African accent. Not African-American but actual African.
I was perhaps foolish enough to give “Daryl” our email address because he refused to send us the details via US Mail, (maybe afraid of a Federal rap?) Nevertheless, the email we received ended with .NE, which means Nigeria. Africa! So, these people are running their business from a safe haven, which indicates their fear of US prosecution.
I have submitted a complaint to Do Not Call.
Rick in Louisiana
I rec’d a call around 11:30 this am on a voicemail. I was curious, although sure it was a scam. However, since the do not call list became available this is the first such call I have received. I called back and left a message (not giving my name, however with my phone number I’m sure they can get this) and then decided to look-up the phone number, since the first time I called the number, 877-279-3457 I was put on hold. There was no listing for this number, but the number on the caller-id was 773-891-5637, a listing in Chicago to a woman with the last name of Baum (?) Glad I googled the MItchell COmmunication Group, but it took listening a couple of times to the recording to catch the name of the group…..might that not be on purpose? Thanks for the info!
Just got the same call from David. They acknowledge that they are aware of the fact that you are on the do not call list. This may lead some people to believe it is legitimate. I filed a complaint with the do not call registry. I hope these deceiptful people are hung.
I just rec’d a call my wife; althought the caller’s name was different (Dave) the script was identical (including ext #).
I was a bit excited at first as I did enter a legit contest (for a new Shelby GT500) last year. My friend suggested I check Google for any scams and here I am… oh well… Thanks to everyone on this!
Got the same as all of you. High energy voicemail with same pitch. Tried to call back but no answer. Have no intention of pursuing this folly but I am always concerned about deception in approahes so I follow up for that reason
Just got the same thing on my machine, I dont sign up for anything so I automatically knew it was a scam and googled it to find your responses. I would have love to go to the time share thing just to lead them on like I am buying it and harrass them until they are ready to kick me out. Oh well I`m to busy, Thanks for posting your responses
I finally got my call . . . actually a few of them from different individuals w/ Mitchell Communications Group. I, too, enjoy playing and have returned his call but he’s now on deck. Before returning his call at 877-249-6405 x124, I did my homework and it gets deep . . . as reported by the WWW and not officially confirmed. My findings:
-Julian from Mitchell Communications Group 773-358-1470 Chicago
-800 S Main St., Mansfield, Ma is Premium Destinations, Northeast, LLC
-Premium Destinations, Northeast is working with Global Connections, Inc. (GCI) by selling their Global Discovery Vacation (GDV) product . . . travel club. You’ll see complaints about them with a simple search.
-Premium Destinations is also working with InnSeason Resorts . . . timeshares. I experienced them a decade or so ago . . . soft sell and then high preasure tactics . . . I put down $$$ to buy . . . upon receipt of contract, numerous verbal commitments unmentioned in writing . . . InnSeason’s would not alter their standard contract . . . I would not sign . . . got my money, free lunch on Cape Cod, and ran.
In any event, timeshare, vacation club, travel club, etc. are much the same . . . not worth it I haven’t done my do-not-call complaint yet as I need to play with Julian first.
Welcome me to your club. I just received a message on my recorder from “Bailey”? Maybe! Left the same message as above asking me to call 1-877-279-3457×243. Busy people as I’m in Missouri. Glad to see this website as whenever we have a question we say, “Let’s Google it.”
We’re also on the Do Not Call list. Hope they catch this group.
Sme here! Dave called, left the message and I called back, gave me first name and said…call me back. Never happened. Glad you posted this. Thanks!!!!
Same story here this morning, I also called back very skeptical and got as far as please confirm that you are married over 27 and combined household income of 55K. I said that is wrong, what entry form are you talking about, my husband died ten years ago. The fellow thanked me (not Dave, Dave was in a meeting) I was told I no longer qualfied.
HUMPF!!! Never a sure thing!~
I just got the same exact call today…..only from ‘Dave’. Thankfully, I was on the phone and it went to voicemail. Glad I goggled this first and found this information. THanks for taking the time to post. It came from Mitchell Communications Group from #708-898-2647 but said to call back at 1-877-279-3457 x243. I filed a complaint with donotcall.gov as well.
I got the same scam left on my voicemail.. thanks for taking the time to post about it.
TX
the not so “Angry Monkey”
I too rec’vd a call from David….left a voicemail and will see what happens…I too am on the do not call list so I will be reporting them today to the state of CT
It’s 9/30/10, 8 am and I have just received the exact call from “Patrick”. I called just out of curiosity and was told to leave a message. I suspected this was a bunch of crap so my message was that this was a violation of the do not call law and to remove my number from their scam. I am glad I looked up Mitchell Comm Group to get your info and comment.
Wow lo and behold I get home from work today and find a message exactly as the rest of you. It was David. He’s a busy guy. I figured a scam but called the number back anyways. Did not get anyone – they wanted me to leave a voicemail. I did not. I am also on the no-call list and was amazed to find all this information right here on the net regarding these people. They claimed to be calling from Mitchell Communication Group from #708-801-9978 but wanted me to call back at 1-877-279-3457 x 243. I too have filed a complaint and hopefully I won’t be bothered again! Damn….I could of used a new car! LOL