Beware of hucksters peddling “Best of Whidbey” plaques.

For years, a company from far off the island has been contacting businesses on Whidbey Island to sell overpriced “Best of Whidbey” merchandise. The company has no connection to the Whidbey News-Times or apparently to the island at all.

The News-Times has long been conducting the annual Best of Whidbey contest, which is based on a tally of votes from the community. It originally was all done by paper ballot but now is largely online. The newspaper is the sole owner of the popular contest meant to recognize excellence in the community.

The News-Times does not sell plaques but presents them to the winners.

Several businesses this year purchased the plaques from the company, believing that it was related to the newspaper’s contest. Some of the businesses weren’t even named as winners in the contest.

One year, a representative of a company selling imitation Best of Whidbey plaques told customers she was “Kim Winsome” from the News-Times, an apparent reference to Associate Publisher Kimberlly Winjum.