Baby of the Year Scam | Red Flags to Watch Out For

The “Baby of the Year” scam is a type of fraudulent photo contest that targets parents and grandparents. It’s designed to trick them into paying a fee or giving away sensitive personal information.

While the name of the “contest” can vary (e.g., “Most Beautiful Baby,” “Cutest Kid”), the tactics are almost always the same.

How the Scam Works

The scam operates in a few distinct phases:

1. The Invitation:

   • Parents are contacted, often through a direct message on social media (like Facebook or Instagram), an email, or a pop-up ad. The message congratulates them, saying their child has been selected as a finalist or a winner in a photo contest. The scammers often use a professional-looking logo and a convincing name to appear legitimate.

2. The “Registration” or “Entry Fee”:

   • To claim the prize or become an official entrant, the victim is told they must pay a small, seemingly reasonable fee for “processing,” “registration,” or “shipping” of a trophy.

3. The “Voting” Phase:

   • The scam may involve a “voting” phase where victims are encouraged to share a link with their friends and family to get votes. This serves two purposes:
     • It makes the contest feel legitimate and engaging.
     • It helps the scammers spread the scam to more people.

4. The Request for Information:

   • After the fee is paid, the scammers may ask for sensitive information like the child’s full name, date of birth, home address, and even banking details to “deposit” the prize money.

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Red Flags to Watch Out For

• You Didn’t Enter:

  • The biggest red flag is that you are notified that you won a contest you never entered. Legitimate contests require you to actively submit an application.

• A Fee is Required to Claim a Prize:

  • Legitimate contests do not ask you to pay a fee to receive a prize. Any request for a “handling,” “shipping,” or “processing” fee is a clear sign of a scam.

• Asks for Sensitive Information:

  • A legitimate contest will not ask for a child’s birth date or your banking information.

• Pressure to Act Quickly:

  • The scammers will often use high-pressure tactics, telling you to pay the fee immediately or you will lose your chance to win.

• Vague Contact Information:

  • The contest’s website or social media page may have little or no contact information, or the contact details provided may not be from the company that is supposedly running the contest.

• The Prize is Vague:

  • The prize may sound appealing (e.g., a “modeling contract” or a “scholarship”), but the details are always vague and never materialize.

What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted

1. Do Not Pay: Do not send any money, regardless of the amount.
2. Do Not Provide Information: Do not give away any personal or financial information.
3. Report and Block: Report the account or message as a scam on the social media platform and then block the user.
4. Warn Others: Inform your friends and family about the scam to prevent them from becoming victims.