US Local Business Association Award or Scam?
There seems to be some kind of custom spam email going around where it says your company won an award for being the best small business for your industry in your area. Some people might say this would appear to be a scam. Is it? Well, I guess if you wanted to pay for the award and materials they provide and then hang it in your office to look good, you could. Hopefully other people that know that it’s completely meaningless don’t come to your office and see it. In reality, if you are given an award, you do not have to pay for it.
And hopefully you don’t put out a press release about this award. Here is the one they “made” for us: Webstix Receives 2008 Madison Award. The URL is: https://www.uslba2008.net/P9H234NV and that “P9H234NV” code in the URL is just the entry in their database that says to put our company name in certain places. That’s how it works.
This text seems a little questionable:
“Each year, the US Commerce Association (USCA) identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.”
How do they know we had exceptional marketing success? There’s no examples given. It sounds good but it’s fluff. Most awards that you would get, you don’t have to pay for, so that’s what puts up the red flag in my mind. They even include a picture of it, which is impressive. You can write a program to make custom images like that, so it’s not much work for them but again, impressive.
It’s creative, I’ll give them that. They’re probably an award or plaque company that wants to make some money. I like their entrepreneurial spirit except that it’s “black hat” – like that letter you get in the mail with the AT&T-like logo saying that your directory listing is expiring – that’s also a scam but I’m sure they rake it in.
So watch out for this stuff… they’re out there! 
Update: This seems to be back again as a new version located at “2009award.org” this time. They call it the “2009 Madison Award” but it probably has other city names in it. I just got an email about this for one of our client that won the “2009 Madison Award in the Massage Therapists category by the US Commerce Association.”
Again, it’s creative. They’re not doing anything illegal except for maybe spam emailing. Just be careful when you see these things.
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My small business got this email but I thought it was pretty funny. It said that I received it for my business in a city where I moved from 2 years ago. There are scammers everywhere!
I suppose for a start-up company this contrived award may work as a start to build some credibility. Don’t be too hard on contrived awards, they’re everywhere. For example, take Chrysler / Jeep and their bogus “Trail Rated”. There’s no such achievement or certification as “Trail Rated” because Jeep made it up and awarded themselves the designation. I laugh my ass off every time I hear their commercial and they pat themselves on the back for an award they made up and never earned.
Funny enough, I can think a many vehicles from other manufacturers that deserve to be “Trail Rated” far more than any Jeep product. If that was an official award from a 3rd party, and Jeep actually had to compete to earn the designation, they would lose.
So even big companies partake in contrived awards. Maybe US Commerce Association can send an award notification to Chrysler / Jeep to help them out.
Yeah, it’s a scam, we got the same SPAM email. See the BBB posting on this one. http://spokane.bbb.org/article…eem-11397.
I received an award email from the U.S. Commerce Association on September 28, 2009. It came with a $79 plague and a Press Release that I couldn’t find. Running your business is hard work. I consider this type of scam cruel and unusual punishment. I would like to put these scam artists out of business once and for all. Lillian Cauldwell, CEO, Passionate Internet Voices Talk Radio, Inc. http://internetvoicesradio.com
I got this AMAZING offer too. Unfortunately I have been out of business for the last 3 years… It amazes me that I could do such a good job without even having my shop open. For what’s it worth I used to make award/plaques, etc and they are far cheaper than the $79 quoted above.
Our company received this email and it is a SCAM! What ever happened to people that were honest and had credibility? I called our local Chamber of Commerce and they had not heard of this type of business award. I definately see this company trying to make money in a very dishonarable way. One should never have to pay for their award! This is a true scam and shame on them!
I work for an international company with offices in over 50 countries, almost 10,000 employees and revenues pegged at over a billion dollars per year…and our company won the “Best of” award for “marketing excellence” for one of our offices in the Mid-West.
Now, naturally, this raised a red flag in my mind. How on earth did we win a small business award? A few questions here and there and a quick google search and my suspicions were realized: this was a scam. What stinks about it is that it hurts small businesses. My parents had a small business when I was a kid and I know the struggle of it. Just burns me when someone pretends to help small business, but really are just taking advantage of them.
One of the funny things to mention was before we uncovered the scam, my giant company decided that our tightening of budgets meant we wouldn’t pay pay for the award (which was another red flag, btw) but it seems that many small business have forked over the money.
Finally, to the poster saying “don’t be too hard on contrived awards”…this isn’t a contrived award. It is an out and out SCAM! At least with the Chrysler advertising campaign, you get a Jeep that you can drive. With this “award”, you get a useless chunk of glass.
Nice to be recognized as the Best of Pueblo 2009 for Video production. Very clever and they had the name of my company correctly listed, and some how found an obscure email address for a Rotary group I operate. I’ve done some fine video work in San Francisco and here, but I retired about six years ago. Don’t need a vanity award, but was impressed with the scam and how well they run it.
Wow, I’m an executive at a company and got this email for the small business I help run. At first glance, I was excited because we took above measures for marketing this year and I thought we were being recognized for it. But when I found out I had to pay for the award…I thought, “what a scam.” Even though, we were in Vogue 10 times this year, but no mention of that in the email.
It’s a total scam.
We got this email award two times this year! I knew it a fake when they spelled san fran incorrectly. What a joke! I guess some people fall for it.
i was an emplyoee of the business…and I feel horrible for the people I sold these too. it is a scam. It costs about not even $40 to get a plaque made and they charge fricken $80 to for on stupid plaque. And then $180 for a stupid crystal. They say you have been awarded the Best of (town) Award…when in fact there is a good chance they have never heard of the town. Seriously have you ever heard of an award you have to BUY? Awards are given to you. I told that to my boss and he told me the reason that they sell them is so they they can build their “business” well if they need money for a plaque or crystal why dont they go get donations from places like most places do that give out awards. It just makes businesses look stupid when they call and ask if they would like to buy their own award. I believe the definition of award. is not something that you buy.
I just received a similiar email from “Small Business Commerce Association” and I initially thought it was junk. Something caught my eye and made me look at it a little closer. I investigated the website, but thought it curious that we hadn’t applied for an award and couldn’t think of anyone else who would nominate us. I didn’t want to insert the “award code” to receive my press release. Instead I searched for them and found this scam. They sure know how to appear legitimate.
thank you for posting this on your website.
With everyone fighting for some sort of advantage, any reason to contact a customer and say “see how good we are”… I could see companies buying this “award” even KNOWING it’s a scam. They use it as an opportunity to toot their own horn and brag to unknowing customers.
I agree though, you’d be pretty embarrassed broadcasting that press release – when somebody writes back and notes that it’s a fake. In the long run it could do a lot of damage.
I agree though, it’s a good idea and a well-run little scam.