Provincial police are warning vendors about a scam targeting people trying to book spaces at local fairs and community events.
On July 27, OPP say someone was contacted by email about reserving a vendor spot at the Elmvale Fall Fair, and was told to send an e-transfer to elmvalvefairinfo@gmail.com in order to secure vendor space. After the initial payment was sent, the victim was contacted again and asked to provide an additional amount, with the sender claiming there was a funding shortfall associated with the vent.
The legitimate Elmvale Fall Fair has issued public warnings on its social media platforms and official website, advising the public of this fraudulent activity.
Police encourage vendors, businesses, and members of the public to exercise caution when arranging vendor spaces for fairs, festivals, and community events.
"Before sending payment, always verify that communications are coming from an official event organizer through trusted contact information obtained from the event's official website or social media channels," police said in a news release on Thursday. "Be cautious of requests for immediate payment, additional unexpected fees, or communications originating from unofficial email addresses."
The investigation is ongoing.
