My award-winning company!!!!

Well, it's a Tuesday evening, Mrs Neil is watching Bakeoff before Married at First Sight - and whilst I've a pile of work things to do, I'm feeling bored and mischievous......... AND THEN an email comes in and I find out my company has been nominated for yet ANOTHER AWARD!!

Since December 2020 I've been contacted no less than 22 times from AI Global Media about nominations or awards which my company has 'won'.

If you're reading this and thinking I must have 'done something right' to be nominated for so many awards - you'd be wrong! I've done nothing!!!

In fact, not only have I done nothing - the company in question has been Dormant with Companies House since 2020, has no website, no advertising/social media - and in fact its a wonder where my personal contact details have been obtained!

So 22 nominations, multiple award wins, and I didn't even have to turn up - there has to be a catch?

Yes...... the catch is these emails informing me of the awards I've "won" would like me to pay between ￡595 and ￡4,995. Included is a "crystal trophy"!!!

Research of the 'Awards' takes you to a number of 'magazines' published by AI Global Media , for example the Luxe Review, which hosted no less than 15 awards in 2023, including the Global Vegan Awards! However none of the 'awards' have any Judging Panel listed, nor any dates or locations of ceremonies - in fact you'd think with 22 nominations under my belt I'd be invited to get the tuxedo out and head to Park Lane to accept my crystal trophy?

Seemingly what these 'magazines' are actually is a directory of 'awards winners', who have paid somewhere between ￡595 to ￡4,995 to appear in the 'magazine' - which purports to be distributed to 238,000 "individuals" - probably the same individuals who are told they've been nominated for an award.

According to the Complaints Board, many other businesses from around the world are also being nominated for 'awards'. Some businesses complain once they've handed over the money to AI Global Media they never hear anything again. Other businesses complain of oppressive terms, such as a 'cooling off period' of just 24 hours. Some businesses have even had their details passed to debt collection agencies, and received threatening letters from solicitors!

I have to say the whole thing stinks! They got my contact details from somewhere without my permission. Never once have I given permission for my (dormant company) to be entered into any awards. They've contacted me multiple times. They're seeking money to use the company's data in their 'magazines'.

If you're thinking about handing over money complete strangers because you've 'won' some 'awards', in a magazine you've never heard of (that isn't even printed), without a judging panel, and without a public awards ceremony..............it may well be a scam!

Incidentally, I would like to say a huge congratulations to AI Global Media - for winning the "Most Annoying Company of the Year" award. My packages start at ￡25,0000......