American Unsolicited award notification. Travel check for $1198.00 to be redeemed for 2 round trip airline tickets to anywhere in the Continental US from any major international US airport. Claim that they have attempted to contact me on several occasions and that this is my last chance to respond. Check must be redeemed by June 20, 2013. States that this is not a timeshare or land sales offer. Only telephone number provided. 1-866-233-0348 Unknown listing for number. Scottsdale Wisconsin

Just turn on the television and you will see many offers like this one. But because you think it's too good to be true, you probably didn't pick up the phone. Later you wonder are these offers for real? Will a company give you a weekend in a great destination just because you "won" a prize? The short answer is yes they will, with strings attached. The "strings" attached to these timeshare deals usually come in the form of mandatory sales presentations that last anywhere from 90 minutes to several hours in some circumstances. These free weekends aren't all bad though. You will get a chance to tour the resort (or you should; if a salesperson meets you in a restaurant with a few rough drawings - beware). Before embarking on a free weekend, however, be prepared. Their goal is to get you to buy a timeshare on the spot. You will probably be pressured to some degree. If the weekend stay isn't worth the high pressure sales, remember you can always leave - but it is possible to simply enjoy the weekend and leave without having purchased a timeshare at the end