Warning on business awards scam pays off

Media statement
Friday, June 5, 2009

Warning on business awards scam pays off

A business awards scheme labeled a scam has closed its awards programme this year, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) advises.

A notice saying the awards this year have closed appears to come hard on the heels of a report in yesterday's Independent newspaper unmasking them, EMA chief executive Alasdair Thompson said.

"The association's concern was the so called awards would waste time and possibly money of companies thinking of entering," Mr Thompson said.

"Now a message on the website - http://www.nzbusinessawards.co.nz - says the awards this year have closed already but there is nothing to indicate when the finalists or winners will be named.

"One of our members became suspicious about the awards when they went to the website as there was no owner or sponsors listed.

"The website invited organisations 'short-listed' for the awards to pay $1500 to participate further.

"We phoned the number on the site but got no reply, and have since learned it was an answering service.

"The site is identical to an equally anonymous one in Australia.

"We think the claims on the site put it in breach of the Fair Trading Act particularly as they include the implied 'endorsement'' of well-known companies that had in fact not participated.

"Businesses should thoroughly check out awards and any other scheme that lack the usual credentials before paying any money to anonymous operators.''

ENDS

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