Cambridge Fall Fair warns vendors of Facebook scams selling fake table fees ahead of next week’s event, urging caution and official sign-ups only.
Cambridge Fall Fair Issues Scam Alert to Vendors
Fair organizers raise alarm
The Cambridge Fall Fair is warning vendors about fraudulent Facebook accounts posing as event organizers and attempting to collect false table fees. Fair president Chris Chapelle said scammers are targeting small businesses in advance of the fair’s return on September 4.
How the scam works
According to Chapelle, impostors create Facebook profiles claiming to represent the fair, offering vendors tables for a fee and requesting e-transfers to illegitimate email addresses. “They ask for your business name, what you’re selling, and then provide a price and payment instructions,” he explained.
Catching the fraudsters
To protect vendors, Chapelle personally engages with these fake accounts, posing as a vendor to confirm the scheme before exposing it. “At that point I send back and say, ‘you’re not part of the fair. This is a scam. How do you sleep at night?’” he told CBC News. Two such scammers have been identified and reported this year.
Official process for vendors
Chapelle emphasized that only one official email address and one authorized contact handle vendor registrations. Any payments made outside this channel will not be recognized. Vendors who fall victim to scams and arrive at the fairgrounds on September 4 will unfortunately be turned away if not on the verified vendor list.
Community impact and prevention
The Cambridge Fall Fair, running for more than 180 years, has seen online scams emerge in the past four years. Chapelle noted that the team is tightening security measures and actively warning the public through official social media posts. He urged vendors to rely solely on the fair’s website for sign-up details.
Event details
This year’s fair will take place from September 4 to 7 at Dickson Park in Galt, featuring live concerts, food vendors, and midway rides. Organizers say they remain committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable event while protecting vendors from fraud.
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