Vendor safety5 min read

How to spot a craft show scam

June 14, 2026

Craft and market scams are common — fake organizers, lookalike events, and shady payment requests target vendors every season. Here's how to spot them and protect yourself.

Artisans Almanac does not verify or guarantee events.We list shows from public sources and from other vendors, and details like dates, deadlines, and fees can be wrong or out of date. We're not responsible for third-party events. Always confirm the details on the official source before you apply or pay.

Warning signs of a scam

Any one of these is a reason to slow down and verify. Several together? Walk away.

Pay before you're accepted

Many legitimate juried shows collect the booth fee only after you're accepted. A demand for full payment up front from an unknown organizer is a red flag.

Shady payment methods

Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, or “friends & family” on Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App are classic scams — they're nearly impossible to reverse.

Overpayment “refunds”

Someone sends a check for more than you're owed and asks you to refund the difference. The check bounces after you've sent real money. Never refund an overpayment.

High-pressure urgency

“Only two booths left — pay in the next hour.” Manufactured urgency exists to stop you from checking. Real organizers give you time.

Lookalike names & web addresses

Scammers copy real show names and use near-identical domains — an extra word, a typo, or an address registered last week. Read the URL carefully.

Pressure through DMs

A real organizer points you to an application on their official site — not a direct message asking you to send payment. No track record, no past-year photos, no reviews? Be cautious.

Verify before you apply

A few minutes of checking saves you a booth fee — and a heartbreak.

Look the event up independently.Find the official website, search the name, and look for photos or recaps from previous years.
Confirm with the venue.Call or email the venue directly to check the event is actually booked there.
Check the organizer's history.Past events, vendor reviews, and a real presence in the community are good signs.
Ask other vendors.Vendor Facebook groups and local guilds usually know who's legit and who isn't.
Confirm the deadline and fee on the official source.Don't rely on a listing alone — including ours. Always check the organizer's own page before paying.

Pay safely

Use a credit card when you can.It's the easiest payment to dispute if something goes wrong.
Avoid irreversible methods.Gift cards, wires, crypto, and “friends & family” transfers to people you don't know are how scammers get paid.
Keep records.Save the listing, all emails, and your receipts in case you need to dispute.

If you've been scammed

It happens to experienced vendors too — it's not your fault. Act quickly:

1
Stop all contact and don't send more money.Scammers often come back with new “fees” or fake fixes.
2
Contact your bank or card issuer.Dispute the charge as soon as possible — speed matters.
3
Report it.File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov, and your state attorney general's office.
4
Report the page or post.Flag it to the platform where you found it (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) to protect others.
5
Warn other vendors.A quick heads-up in your vendor community can stop the next person from getting hit.

Trust your gut.

A real organizer is transparent, patient, and easy to verify. When something feels off, slow down and check — and always confirm every detail on the official source before you pay.

This page is general educational information for vendors, not legal or financial advice. Artisans Almanac does not verify, endorse, or guarantee any event, organizer, or listing, and is not responsible for losses from third-party events. Always independently verify details before applying or paying.