A warning for local business owners and market vendors with an increase in event registration scams in the area.
Concerns were raised after fraudulent vendor registration materials were submitted for Blenheim Cherryfest. A statement from Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers says someone outside of the Blenheim BIA used AI tools to generate a Facebook page, poster, and letter inviting vendors to register and be a part of this year’s event.
“It’s very upsetting for everyone involved because we are trying our best to support our wonderful community, and to have someone take advantage of people using our event is terrible,” said Sam May, Volunteer with the Blenheim BIA and owner of Crossroads Pellets in a news release. “We are doing our best to share information in hopes that it prevents others from falling victim to this type of crime.”
Officials say with for planning many local markets and festivals in full swing, the incident highlights the importance of ensuring vendors are working through official channels before providing money or personal information.
“We strongly urge every business to verify and confirm that they are dealing with the official organization before signing a contract,” added Erica McIntosh, Coordinator for Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers. “If something feels off, trust your instincts and verify independently. Taking a few extra minutes to confirm details can save vendors from losing money and protect their personal information.”
With the growing use of artificial intelligence tools, creating convincing fake materials has become increasingly easy, and Crime Stoppers officials are urging organizers to watch out for demands of immediate payment, contact information that doesn’t match the event, being approached on social media first, and unprofessional or incomplete applications.
