A member contacted us this week saying they received an email regarding an award they had “won” but they were told they would need to purchase it.  The email stated they had been selected by the US Commerce Association to receive a “2010 Best of Award” and to act now to order the award  ($180 for the crystal 8” award).

According to the email, they had been selected as the “2010 Best of Minneapolis Award winner in the Individual & Family Services category by the US Commerce Association.  We have tried to contact your business throughout the year but have not received any response.  With this final notice you still have a chance to order an award for 2010.”

The Better Business Bureau offers several tips to avoid losing money in a “vanity award” program:

• Learn everything you can about who is giving the award.  If it is coming from a mystery company, chances are it simply wants your money.

• If you didn’t apply for an award or the group cannot tell you how you were nominated, chances are the award is not legitimate.

• Most legitimate awards do not come with costs for the recipient.  If there is a cost, scrutinize it even more closely.

• Ask specific questions about how your company or organization was chosen for an award and find out how many similar awards are given each year.

Lisa Foss Olson
952.851.2483
lolson@careproviders.org

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