Vendors in Northeast Georgia are being urged to use caution when responding to event invitations on social media after a scam involving a fake vendor event at the Habersham County Fairgrounds was uncovered.
Vendor scam
A local vendor recently came forward after nearly falling victim to the scheme, which was advertised on the “TOCCOA, GA – STEPHENS CO.” Facebook group. The post called for vendors to sign up for a weekend event in May, supposedly taking place at the Habersham County Fairgrounds on May 3–4 and May 17–18.
The vendor, Ashley Chambers, who owns Sundree Farms, said she initially thought the event was legitimate. The organizer, identifying herself as Alicia Scott, sent Chambers a standard-looking vendor form requesting her business information, after Chambers inquired about the event.
But things took a suspicious turn when Scott requested payment for the event via her personal Venmo account.
For Chambers, that was a red flag. She explained that most of the time, vendors pay in person at the event, not in advance and certainly not to someone’s personal Venmo.
Wanting to confirm the event’s legitimacy, Chambers contacted the Habersham County Recreation Department—and that’s when the scam unraveled. She was told the fairgrounds were not reserved for any vendor event on the advertised dates.
When confronted, Scott’s Facebook post was quickly deleted and all communication ceased.
A search of Facebook by Now Habersham revealed a private profile matching the name and photo of “Alicia Scott,” but the account settings prevent direct messaging—adding to suspicions that it is a fake or fraudulent account.
County response
Upon being alerted to the situation, Habersham County Public Information Officer Ashlyn Brady confirmed that the event was never scheduled.
“After speaking with our Recreation Department employees, it is confirmed that Alicia Scott DOES NOT have the fairground reserved for May 3rd–4th or May 17th–18th,” said Brady.
“We have reported her Facebook post and account as fraudulent, and we are in the process of reporting this to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office.”
Brady advises the public to always contact the Recreation Department directly to verify events before sending any payments.
Sheriff’s Office warns of additional scams
Habersham County Sheriff Robin Krockum also warns of unrelated but ongoing scams impersonating his office.
“We’ve had reports of someone claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office, asking people to pay for an ankle monitor before being bonded out of jail,” Krockum said.
“There’s also a scam where someone claims you missed jury duty and need to pay a fine to avoid a warrant.”
The scammers are spoofing the Sheriff’s Office phone number to appear more credible.
Krockum urges residents to never give out personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or bank account details. He recommends that if you receive a suspicious call that appears to be from law enforcement, hang up and call the Sheriff’s Office directly at their official number.
How to Protect Yourself
- Always verify events with official county departments.
- Avoid sending money via personal payment apps like Venmo unless you trust the source.
- Be cautious of private or hard-to-contact social media accounts.
- Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement or the Georgia Consumer Protection Division.
If you’ve been targeted or have information about this scam, contact the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
