The Better Business Bureau (BBB) cautions business owners to be wary of "vanity awards" – illegitimate awards designed to deceive and extract money from unsuspecting businesses. These scams often begin with unsolicited emails claiming you’ve won an award or have been nominated by someone else, but they require a fee for entry or acceptance, usually a couple of hundred dollars.
“BBB believes very strongly that trusted, outstanding businesses deserve meaningful recognition - something we strive to do through our Torch Awards for Ethics,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO. “That makes it all the worse when a vanity award scheme takes advantage of a hardworking business. We recommend business owners keep in mind that most legitimate awards don’t require a fee.”
In 2023, a small business owner in the Springfield, MO area received an email claiming she was nominated for a "small business best of e-commerce" award with a $2200 prize. The email requested two payments of $250 to enter. Suspicious due to her incomplete business website, she blocked the sender.
To avoid such scams, BBB advises recognizing red flags: unsolicited emails, requests for payment, unknown award organizations, and awards that require few qualifications. Research the award company’s BBB Business Profile, ask how you were nominated, and don’t click on suspicious links. Report vanity award schemes to BBB Scam Tracker and suspicious emails to your provider to help block spam and phishing attempts.
