The Color 5 Mile race series advertises events in 100 cities and promises that runners will get to “blast each other from head to toe in thousands of color combinations.” The race series also appears to be a huge scam, according to the Better Business Bureau.

For a second year, the BBB will issue a national warning against fake themed-races, spurred by a wave of recent complaints against the Color 5 Mile event.

“It looks like there are going to be more fake themed-races this year because they have grown in appeal,” Katherine Hutt, the national communications director for the BBB, told Runner’s World Newswire.

While most race scams focus on a single location or actually hold the event but don’t deliver on what they advertise, the Color 5 Mile is unique in its scope, trying to elicit $50 registration fees in major cities around the country with a no-refund policy. If you dig below the Color 5 Mile's splashy web design, the inconsistencies become quite clear. For one thing, the race can’t decide how long the course should be.

On the “About Color 5” landing page, the site asks, “What is Color Mile 5K?” It responds with, “Color Mile is a nearly two mile race.” For experienced runners these red flags are easy to catch, but Hutt said scammers hope to take advantage of first-timers who may not know the difference between a 5K and five miles.

To avoid being duped, Hutt advises researching the race’s organizers if the race seems fishy. For example, the Color 5 Mile lists a contact number that is currently out of service. And the number is linked with another race website—the Around the Bay 30K in San Francisco, California. This race also appears to be a scam as it was supposed to be held on May 9, but the San Fransisco Parks Department confirmed no such event took place. The race also steals the name of a legitimate event in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Hutt additionally recommends researching the location of the event if you have any suspicions. “Contact the city, park, or other location where the run will be held to make sure the event has obtained any required permits,” she said.

Many of the races advertised on the Color 5 Mile website are supposed to start at city halls around the country, but the BBB has not found a single city that’s received a permit application from organizers.

As the weather improves, the BBB expects to receive more complaints about fake races. “It’s a shame that there are so many that aren’t legitimate,” Hutt said.

The surest bet to avoid scams is registering for races with a track record—or at least ones that know the difference between a mile and a kilometer.

Kit Fox Special Projects Editor Kit has been a health, fitness, and running journalist for the past five years.

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