10/11/2026
Please Read
There's a scam happening in our maker community right now, and it's becoming a really big problem.
Scammers are impersonating legitimate market organizers. They're copying event details, duplicating vendor applications, copying graphics, creating fake email addresses, sending acceptance letters, and issuing invoices. They're making the entire process look so real that even experienced vendors are being fooled.
I currently have police files open related to people impersonating me and my events. I've had so many vendors reach out believing they've been accepted into markets, only to discover that there is no record of their application, acceptance, or payment.
It's creating so much chaos for makers and organizers.
Makers, artists, and small business owners work incredibly hard, and for many people, participating in a market is a significant investment, and losing that money can have a big impact on their business.
As we head into the busiest holiday market season, organizers will be promoting our events, vendors will be sharing their participation, and many people are going to be looking for opportunities to sell their products. Unfortunately, this creates more opportunities for scammers.
So please, whether you're a first-time vendor or you've been doing markets for 20 years, take a few extra minutes to protect yourself.
A few things every vendor should be doing:
CHECK THE EMAIL ADDRESS. Not just the name that appears in your inbox. Scammers can make an email look like it's coming from an actual organizer while using a different address that looks very similar. Check every letter.
VERIFY DIRECTLY WITH THE ORGANIZER. If you receive an acceptance, invoice, or payment request, confirm it through a contact method you've independently verified, not the contact information in the suspicious email.
BE CAUTIOUS OF APPLICATION LINKS. Just because a form looks legitimate doesn't mean it is. Scammers are copying entire application forms, event descriptions, and branding.
DON'T LET "URGENCY" PRESSURE YOU. If someone is pushing you to send money immediately to secure your spot, take a minute to verify everything.
DOUBLE-CHECK PAYMENT DETAILS. Before sending an e-transfer or making a payment, confirm the recipient with the actual organizer. A professional-looking invoice is not proof that it's legitimate.
REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. If someone is impersonating an organizer, report the account or email, save screenshots, and let the real organizer know.
Please share this with your vendor friends, fellow makers, and market organizers.
I know it seems like a lot of work, but the more people who know what to look for, the harder we make it for these guys to keep going.
-Kate
