A fake fairgrounds email is trying to trick vendors
ROSEBURG, OR — Vendors who plan to take part in the Douglas County Christmas Craft Fair are being warned about a fake email scam making the rounds. The messages pretend to come from fairgrounds staff and ask recipients to pay for booth space, food truck spots, and electrical hookups.
The fairgrounds says the emails are not authorized and have nothing to do with the real event. Because the scam mentions a familiar local fair and uses payment language that sounds routine, it could easily catch the attention of busy vendors who expect to hear from organizers.
Officials say the annual craft fair is scheduled for December 4-6, 2026, and real vendor communication is handled through the fairgrounds’ normal procedures. That means unsolicited messages asking for payment deserve extra caution.
How the scam works
The fraud appears to rely on impersonation. Scammers send messages that look like they are from fairgrounds employees, then pressure vendors to send money or click a payment link tied to the fake request.
According to the fairgrounds, legitimate vendor fees are not collected through unsolicited emails, third-party payment links or online payment links sent out of the blue. That distinction is important, because the scam is designed to seem like a routine invoice or event update rather than a warning sign.
Anyone who has already applied for a booth or who is hoping to secure a spot may be especially vulnerable. The email can create a sense of urgency, making people worry they will lose a space unless they act quickly.
The warning signs
- The email asks for booth fees, food truck fees or electrical hookup payments through a link you did not expect.
- The message arrives unexpectedly and claims to be from fairgrounds staff.
- The sender pushes you to act quickly or suggests payment is needed immediately.
- The email asks for personal or financial information that should already be handled through normal vendor procedures.
- The request uses a third-party or online payment link instead of the fairgrounds’ established process.
- The communication does not match the usual way the Douglas County Fairgrounds handles vendor applications or questions.
If you've already paid or shared information
- Contact your bank or financial institution right away if you sent money or provided payment details.
- Report the incident to your local law enforcement agency.
- Save the email, payment confirmation and any related messages in case investigators need them.
- Watch your accounts closely for unusual charges or activity.
- If you shared passwords or login details, change them as soon as possible.
- Consider reporting the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How to protect yourself
- Do not reply to suspicious vendor emails until you have verified them through an official contact method.
- Avoid clicking links in unexpected messages, especially when they involve money.
- Use only the fairgrounds’ established procedures for applications, fees and communication.
- Call the Douglas County Fairgrounds directly at 541-440-4396 if you want to confirm whether a message is real.
- Visit the fairgrounds office in person at 2110 Southwest Frear Street in Roseburg if you need added reassurance.
- Keep in mind that a familiar event name does not make an email genuine; scammers often borrow trusted names to seem legitimate.
The bottom line
This scam depends on trust, urgency and a familiar local event name. The safest response is to ignore unexpected payment requests and verify anything questionable through the fairgrounds’ official channels.
Anyone who may have clicked a link, shared information or sent money should act quickly by contacting their bank and reporting the matter to law enforcement. A careful pause before paying can help vendors avoid a costly mistake.
