A message from The Vendor Vault to our crafters, bakers, makers, artisans and small business community
The world of markets, pop-ups and vendor events is an exciting place to be. You get to showcase your products, meet customers, connect with other small businesses and build your brand.
Unfortunately, where there are legitimate opportunities, there are also scammers looking for ways to take advantage of hardworking small business owners.
One of the scams we are seeing more often involves people impersonating event organizers. They may create fake Facebook pages, profiles or email addresses that look very similar to a legitimate event host. They may then contact vendors claiming to have spaces available, offering last-minute spots or requesting payment.
Sometimes the difference between the real account and the fake one can be incredibly subtle.
🚨 Stop. Verify. Then Pay.
Before you apply, click a link, provide information or send a payment, take a moment to verify that you are actually dealing with the event organizer.
🔎 Check the page carefully
Look closely at the name of the Facebook page or profile.
Scammers may use:
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Slightly different spellings
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Extra spaces or characters
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A different profile picture
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A newly created page
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A name that looks almost identical to the legitimate event or organizer
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A personal profile pretending to represent an organization
Don't assume that because a profile has the right logo or event information, it is legitimate. Images and information can be copied.
📧 Verify the email address
Pay attention to the email address you are communicating with.
If you normally communicate with an organizer through their official business email and suddenly receive a message from a completely different address, stop and verify it before proceeding.
When in doubt, go directly to the organizer's official website or social media page and use the contact information listed there.
💰 Be extremely careful with payment requests
This is one of the biggest red flags.
If someone contacts you privately claiming they have a vendor space available and asks you to send an e-transfer, deposit or other payment, do not automatically assume the request is legitimate.
Especially be cautious when someone:
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Says there is only one space left and you must pay immediately
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Requests payment to a personal name
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Provides a payment email that doesn't match the organizer
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Asks you to pay outside the organizer's normal registration process
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Says they can "hold" a space if you send money right away
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Contacts you from an account you don't recognize
A legitimate event organizer should be able to explain their application and payment process clearly.
🔗 Think before you click
Be careful with links and forms sent through unexpected messages.
If someone sends you a link to "register," "claim your spot" or "make your payment," don't click automatically.
Instead, visit the organizer's official website yourself and find the event from there.
📱 Don't trust a random message
One of the easiest ways for scammers to find vendors is through social media.
You may receive a message saying:
"Hi! We have one vendor space available for our upcoming event. Are you interested?"
It sounds harmless.
But before responding, check who actually sent it.
If you're unsure, don't engage with the account. Contact the event organizer directly through their official contact information.
🛡️ What should you do if you're unsure?
The easiest rule to remember is:
STOP. VERIFY. THEN PROCEED.
If something doesn't look right, don't feel pressured to respond immediately.
Take a screenshot of the message and contact the event organizer through their official website, email or social media page.
A legitimate organizer will understand why you are being cautious.
In fact, we encourage you to ask.
We would much rather have a vendor contact us to verify a message than discover that someone has lost money to an impersonator.
A reminder from The Vendor Vault
At The Vendor Vault, we take the trust of our vendor community seriously.
Our goal is to create a professional, organized and curated environment where small businesses can showcase what they do best.
That means vendor safety matters too.
If you receive a message claiming to be from The Vendor Vault and something doesn't look right, please verify it with us directly before providing information or making a payment.
Do not rely solely on a profile name, logo or message to confirm someone's identity.
When it comes to your business and your money, taking an extra minute to verify is always worth it.
🚨 See Something Suspicious?
If you believe someone is impersonating The Vendor Vault, please let us know.
Take a screenshot of the account or message and contact us through our official channels. Do not send money or personal information while you're trying to determine whether the account is legitimate.
And please help protect your fellow vendors. If you see a suspicious account targeting other makers, bakers, crafters or small businesses, report it to the platform and notify the event organizer.
We are all part of the same small-business community. Looking out for one another helps keep our markets safer for everyone.
A Note of Respect
I am honoured to live, work, learn and play on the unceded Traditional Territory of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation.
The Vendor Vault is committed to building community through local events and creating opportunities for small businesses to connect, grow and support one another.
Stay smart. Stay skeptical. Stay safe. And always verify before you pay.