An outside company presenting itself as “The Nacogdoches Award Program” is contacting local businesses telling them they won a “Best of Nacogdoches 2021” award and asking them to provide credit card information to purchase a plaque or trophy.

The company’s emails are not associated with The Daily Sentinel’s annual Best of Nac contest and is seeking payment of upwards of $229 for awards.

“I would encourage businesses to click on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email from the Houston company to be removed from their mailing list,” Sentinel publisher Rick Craig said.

"Best of Nac winners are selected by readers via an online ballot or one that appears in our print edition. Voting recently closed and winners will appear in the June 27 edition and our our website at no charge to the local business. Certificates and decals also are given to winners for free."

The Better Business Bureau has repeatedly warned against the online “Best of” awards, which target companies around the nation.

“The sole intent of a vanity award scheme is to capitalize on a company's excitement for an award that essentially holds no value with the purpose of making money on the offer,” the organization says on a portion of its website devoted to tracking vanity award scams.

The outside company did not immediately respond emails or phone calls requesting comment.