Ottawa Christmas market scam targets vendors: City and police issue warnings
Scammers are sending fake emails offering vendors spots at Ottawa holiday markets, then collecting e-transfer payments for booths that do not exist. The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police have both posted warnings.
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Scammers posing as organizers of Ottawa holiday markets are sending fake booth offers by email and collecting e-transfer payments from vendors who think they have secured a spot, CTV News Ottawa reported Saturday.
One vendor, Desiree Battisti, told CTV she received an email from a Gmail address in October offering her Italian business a spot at the Ottawa Christmas Market in Lansdowne. The email came about a week after she had already contacted the market directly, so the timing seemed normal. She paid two separate e-transfers totaling $500. Her bank later told her she had been scammed.
"I'm in complete disbelief," Battisti told CTV. "I'm a very resourceful business owner."
Three markets affected
CTV News Ottawa reported that at least three markets have been targeted: the Ottawa Christmas Market, the Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craftshow and the Metcalfe Farmers' Market.
The City of Ottawa has posted a warning on its website saying it is aware of scammers targeting the Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craftshow. The Ottawa Christmas Market had previously posted its own warning on social media telling vendors to confirm they are dealing with a legitimate representative.
Reeann Slater, manager of the Metcalfe Farmers' Market, told CTV she has been warning vendors for weeks. On one Saturday morning, she said, a vendor arrived with a car full of merchandise for a booth they had never legitimately booked.
"They're just taking so much money from so many people," she told CTV.
Police warning
Ottawa Police Service told CTV it is aware of the scam and is recommending vendors always use official websites to find contact information for market organizers. Technology analyst Carmi Levy said a phone call to a verified number is a reliable check before agreeing to pay.
Levy told CTV that e-transfers cannot be reversed once the money is sent. "Make sure that you know who they are," he said.
Farmers' Markets Ontario told CTV the scam is a serious issue for the industry and recently held an information session for members.
What vendors can do
Before paying for a booth at any Ottawa holiday market, check the market's official website for contact details rather than replying to an email that arrived without a prior request. If you have already paid and believe you have been scammed, report it to Ottawa Police Service at ottawapolice.ca.
Questions this story answers
What is the Ottawa Christmas market vendor scam?
CTV News Ottawa reported on November 7, 2026 that scammers are sending emails that look like offers from Ottawa holiday market organizers, inviting vendors to pay for booth spots. The emails come from Gmail addresses rather than official market accounts. One vendor, Desiree Battisti, paid two separate e-transfers totaling $500 for what turned out to be a fake spot at the Ottawa Christmas Market in Lansdowne. Her bank later told her she had been scammed.
Which Ottawa markets have been targeted by this scam?
CTV News Ottawa reported that at least three markets have been targeted: the Ottawa Christmas Market, the Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craftshow and the Metcalfe Farmers' Market. The Ottawa Christmas Market had previously posted a warning on its social media pages. The City of Ottawa has also posted a warning on its website specifically about scammers targeting the Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craftshow.
What has the City of Ottawa done about the holiday market vendor scam?
CTV News Ottawa reported that the City of Ottawa has posted a warning on its website saying it is aware of scammers targeting the Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craftshow. The city's warning advises vendors to contact market organizers only through official channels. Ottawa Police Service also told CTV it is aware of the scam and is recommending that vendors verify any contact through official websites.
What should Ottawa vendors do to avoid this scam?
CTV News Ottawa reported that Ottawa Police Service is recommending vendors always use official websites to find contact information for market organizers, rather than replying to unsolicited emails. Technology analyst Carmi Levy told CTV that a phone call to a verified number goes a long way toward confirming the identity of the person offering a stall. He also said e-transfers cannot be reversed once sent, so vendors should question any payment request that uses e-transfer.
What is Farmers' Markets Ontario doing about the vendor scam?
CTV News Ottawa reported that Farmers' Markets Ontario said the scam is a serious issue facing the market industry. The organization recently held an information session for its members about the fraud. It did not give a date for the session in the report.
How much money has the Ottawa Christmas market scam cost vendors?
CTV News Ottawa reported that Desiree Battisti paid two e-transfers totaling $500 to a scammer posing as a representative of the Ottawa Christmas Market in Lansdowne. Reeann Slater, manager of the Metcalfe Farmers' Market, told CTV that vendors arrive at the market with cars full of merchandise, expecting booths they never paid for legitimately, and said the scammers are taking money from many people. The report did not give a total figure across all affected vendors.
Why are e-transfers a risk in this scam?
CTV News Ottawa reported that technology analyst Carmi Levy said e-transfers cannot be undone once the money is sent. Because market scammers are collecting payment through e-transfer, there is no way for a vendor to recover the money after realizing the booth offer was fake. Carmi Levy recommended vendors question any request to pay by e-transfer before confirming the identity of the person asking.
Where can Ottawa vendors find official contact information for local markets?
Ottawa vendors should use the official website of each market to find contact details. For City of Ottawa holiday events such as the Nepean Sportsplex Christmas Craftshow, the official page is on ottawa.ca. The Ottawa Christmas Market has its own website and official social media pages. If you have already paid and think you have been scammed, Ottawa Police Service can be contacted through its official website at ottawapolice.ca.
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