Scam Targets Deerfield Fair Vendors

MAN­CHESTER, N.H. — If you’re a vendor planning to set up a booth at the Deerfield Fair this October, you might want to double‑check your inbox before you click “reply.” The fair’s organizers have just sounded the alarm on a sneaky email scam that’s been floating around for the past few weeks.

The bogus message looks oddly official. It greets the recipient, invites them to participate in the fair that kicks off on Oct. 1, and then asks for a $400 payment to lock in a vending spot. The tone is friendly, the logo looks genuine, and the deadline feels urgent – all classic hallmarks of a phishing attempt.

Fair officials were quick to respond. In a brief statement, they told anyone who receives the email to “not open it, delete it immediately, and report it to your email provider.” They also stressed that the Deerfield Fair Association never asks for money via email and that any legitimate payment requests are handled through their official website or in‑person at the fair’s registration desk.

What makes this incident especially unsettling is that it isn’t the first one this year. Earlier in the season, a similar scam targeted a handful of vendors, prompting the fair’s board to issue an initial warning that apparently didn’t reach everyone. This second wave suggests the scammers are either persistent or have refined their tactics – perhaps both.

Local law‑enforcement agencies have been notified, but at this point they’re treating the case as a standard fraud investigation. “We’re gathering any evidence we can,” a police spokesperson said, “and we encourage anyone who may have responded or sent money to come forward.”

For vendors who are unsure whether an email is legit, the fair’s recommendation is simple: compare the sender’s address to the official contact information on the Deerfield Fair website, and when in doubt, give the organization a call. A quick phone call can save you a lot of hassle – and possibly a few hundred dollars.

In the meantime, the Deerfield Fair is moving ahead with its usual festivities, from agricultural displays to live music, and expects a full roster of vendors once the email scare is out of the way. As the fair gears up for another bustling weekend, organizers hope that a clear warning will keep the focus on fun rather than fraud.