The website Babyoftheyear.org is a real and legitimate competition, but it’s often referred to as a “scam” by some people due to its business model, which can be seen as exploitative or misleading.
It’s not a scam in the traditional sense of a fake competition designed to steal money outright, but its practices have led to widespread complaints.
Here’s a breakdown of why people consider it a scam and how it actually works:
Reliability & Trustworthiness
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ScamDoc rates the site’s trust score as “Poor” (25%), citing concerns like hidden domain ownership, a recently registered domain, and short lifespan.
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Scamolytics (Scamminder) also flags the site as likely a scam: issues include lack of transparency, no detailed terms, vague sponsorship claims, and an unusually high $25K prize.
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ScamAdviser, however, gives a higher trust score (~71), but still warns that legitimacy can’t be guaranteed.
Red Flags & Concerns
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Transparency Issues: There’s minimal information about the organizers, judging process, sponsor involvement, or winners—common for legit contests.
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Fundraising Focus: The contest is hosted by Colossal, a professional fundraiser, and any donations benefit the charity DTCare. Yet details about fund use are sparse.
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Pay-to-Win Voting: Free votes are allowed daily, but paid votes can heavily influence results, raising fairness concerns.
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Media Misrepresentation: The site implies involvement by Good Housekeeping and Jessica Alba, but Good Housekeeping confirmed they only ran an ad, not in charge of the contest itself.
Also Read : Parking Charge Notice Scam
How the Competition Actually Works
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Free to Enter:
- You can submit your baby’s photo and information for free.
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Two Types of Votes:
- Free Daily Vote: You can vote for a baby once every 24 hours without charge.
- Donation Votes: You can buy packages of votes, with all of the money (minus the company’s cut) going to a designated charity.
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The Winner:
- The baby with the most votes at the end of the final round wins the grand prize, which is typically a cash prize and a feature in a magazine like Variety or Good Housekeeping.
Community Feedback—Real Parents Weigh In
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Reddit users express doubt:
“They literally send that ‘you’re a finalist’ notification to everyone who applies.”
“More of a money-making scheme. Fairness is questionable.”
“You have to buy votes to win… total scam.”
“My mom donated $40 before learning votes were paid—felt exploitative.”
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Additional concerns include inability to delete a child’s profile and privacy risks from publicizing children’s photos.
Overview Table
| Factor | Observations |
|---|---|
| Transparency | Low—unclear organizers, scarce contest details |
| Voting System | Pay-to-win model skews fairness |
| Charity Connection | Exists but lacks detailed reporting |
| Media Claims | Misleading affiliations with reputable brands |
| Parental Concerns | Numerous posts describe feeling misled or uncomfortable |
| Privacy Risk | Public sharing may expose children to unwanted attention |
Final Verdict
While not a classic “scam,” babyoftheyear.org has multiple troubling aspects:
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The structure emphasizes fundraising over fair competition.
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Important details—like voting processes and financial transparency—are murky.
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Media and celebrity ties appear more promotional than substantive.
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Several parents report feeling misled about voting and privacy implications.
What You Can Do
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Approach with caution—especially before signing up or submitting photos.
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Read the fine print about image rights and donation use.
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Avoid posting sensitive info or photos publicly.
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Treat any request for paid votes with skepticism.
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Rely on known, reputable contests when seeking safe experiences.
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