BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
Amy Rasor is a regional director for the Better Business Bureau.
Trusted, hardworking businesses deserve recognition, but not the kind you have to pay for. Vanity awards are a waste of business owners' money and time. Here's how to spot and avoid these phony awards.
VANITY AWARD SCAM
Vanity awards exist in virtually every industry and for every profession. For some, you fill out a form and pay a fee to enter the "competition." With others, you are simply notified that you've won and directed to a place where you can claim your award. These awards may sound good, but in most cases, they are simply a way to trick small business owners out of their money.
A typical vanity award scam starts with an email. For example, one small business owner reported to BBB Scam Tracker receiving this message: "Hello, and I hope that you are having a great day! My name is Will, and I am emailing you to let you know that you have been selected for the 2022 [City Name] Best Award! For the next year, you will be promoted on our website, so anyone searching in the area will find you… Here are all of the award details, and most importantly, this link where you will claim the award."
Generally, messages like these come with strings attached. First, you must click on a suspicious link. Then, among the instructions on how to claim the award and receive your prize, is the big catch. You need to pay a one-time fee. According to recent BBB Scam Tracker reports, these "awards" typically cost a couple hundred dollars.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
arasor@fortworth.bbb.org | 817-304-8049