# Protecting Our Market Community From Event Scams > LocalStalls takes security seriously. This article explores ways that market stallholders can protect themselves against scammers! - Published: 2026-08-28 - Categories: event-event managers, market-managers, stallholders, stallholders - Canonical: https://localstalls.com/nz/blog/protecting-our-market-community-from-event-scams/ --- **Markets, festivals, shows and stallholder based events are built on trust! The event managers work together with stallholders, venues and local communities to create something special – but unfortunately, scammers sometimes try to take advantage of those relationships.** Fake events and market scams are affecting stallholders around the world. It’s something the [LocalStalls](http://www.localstalls.com) team is keen to protect our community from. Often, scammers pretend to represent real markets, festivals, events or venues, using genuine details, making them look very convincing. We want to help our community understand the red flags to look out for, how to check whether an opportunity is actually genuine, and the steps that can be taken if you or someone you know has already fallen victim to one of these scams! ## How these scams usually work **A scammer may contact a stallholder by email, social media, text message or phone. They might:** - pretend to be a real event manager or event coordinator; - copy an event’s name, logo, flyer or photographs; - use the name of a real venue or team member; - send a fake application form or website; - offer a stall at an event that does not exist; - ask for payment to a personal or unfamiliar account; or - send a fake payment link; - create urgency by saying there are only a few spaces left. Sometimes the event is real, sometimes the payment page looks exactly like the platform the event manager uses but the person contacting the stallholder has absolutely no connection to either the event or the platform. Because much of an event’s information is public, a scam message can contain accurate details and still be fake. ## A few signs to look out for **Something may not be right if:** - you receive an unexpected stall or pitch offer from an unfamiliar account; - the application link is different from the one on the event’s official website or social pages; - you are asked to pay before completing the normal application process; - the payment account name does not match the event manager or invoice; - the payment link comes from a URL that doesn’t look correct; - payment details suddenly change; - the sender pressures you to act immediately; - they avoid your questions or discourage you from contacting the venue; or - they ask for passwords, security codes or personal information that is not reasonably needed. An online form, bank transfer or payment app is not automatically unsafe. Many genuine community events use these tools. What matters is confirming that the form and payment details really came from the event manager. ## Before you apply or pay – remember to take a moment to verify… 1. **Find the official event page yourself.** Use the event manager’s known website, established social media page or trusted event platform. Avoid relying only on a link sent in an unexpected message. 1. **Check the application process.** Make sure the application link matches the one published by the event manager. 1. **Contact the event manager separately.** Use contact details you find independently – not the phone number or email address supplied in the suspicious message. Ask the event manager to confirm the application, invoice and the payment details. 1. **Check with the venue.** If you’re unsure whether the event exists, contact the venue through its own website. 1. **Pause if you feel pressured.** A genuine event manager should understand that you want to confirm where your money and information are going. If the event uses **LocalStalls**, log in through the official **LocalStalls stallholder portal** and check whether the application, booking or invoice appears in your account. ## What to do if you have been scammed If you have paid money or shared information, please do not feel embarrassed. These scams are deliberately designed to look like they are genuine, and they can happen to anyone. The most important thing to do is act quickly, to firstly reduce the chance of any further loss, and to hopefully recover any money already lost. 1. **Contact your bank or payment provider.** Tell them what happened and ask whether the payment can be stopped, recalled or raise a dispute. If you paid by card, ask whether the card should be replaced. 1. **Protect your accounts.** If you shared a password or a security code, change the password through the service’s official website or app. Change it anywhere else you used the same password and turn on multi-factor authentication. 1. **Protect your identity.** If you shared identity documents, banking information or other sensitive details, contact the relevant identity-protection or government service in your country for advice. 1. **Save the evidence.** Keep copies of the messages, texts, email addresses, usernames, links, screenshots, invoices, receipts and payment details. Do not continue communicating with the scammer simply to collect more information. 1. **Tell the real event manager and venue.** They can confirm what happened, warn other stallholders and help report fake accounts or copied event information. If the approach came through an online platform, report it there too so that the platform can take down or delist anything linked to the scammer. 1. **Report the scam.** Contact your country’s fraud, cybercrime or consumer-protection service and, where appropriate, local police. Reporting can help authorities connect related incidents and protect others. Be careful if someone later offers to recover the money you lost for an upfront fee. This may be another scam targeting people who have already lost money. ## How event managers can help protect stallholders **Event managers can make scams easier to recognise by keeping their processes clear and consistent:** - publish one official application link; - clearly explain how invoices and payment requests will be sent; - list official contact details and payment methods; - remind stallholders that payment will not be requested through personal social media accounts; - use multi-factor authentication on email and social accounts; and - quickly warn the community if a fake profile, form or event is discovered. Venues can also help by confirming whether an event is scheduled and sharing a warning if their name is being used without permission. ## Looking out for each other Scammers rely on people being busy, excited about an opportunity or worried about missing out. Taking a little bit of extra time to verify an application or payment is always worthwhile in the long run! If something does not feel right, pause and check. If you discover a scam, speak up. A quick warning to an event manager, venue or fellow stallholder may prevent many other stallholders and event managers from being affected. **Always remember that our market community is strongest when we look out for one another!** ### Reporting and support Reporting options vary by country. These official services may help you find the right next step: - [Australia: Scamwatch](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam) - [United States: ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/) - [Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm?lang=en) - [Europe: Europol’s national reporting directory](https://www.europol.europa.eu/report-a-crime/report-cybercrime-online) If your country is not listed, contact your national cybercrime or consumer-protection service, your financial provider or local police. ![Protecting Our Market Community From Event Scams](../protecting-our-market-community-from-event-scams/scammer_protection_localstalls.png)