Fake Holiday Market Vendor Email Targets Businesses Across Northeast Ohio

Northeast Ohio business owners who received an email inviting them to sell at the Solon Hometown Holiday Market should not pay the booth fee. Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, the market’s legitimate organizer, says the message did not come from its team. The email arrived Monday, Oct. 19, and went to nearly 100 businesses, offices and organizations. NEOhio.news was among the recipients. Who Received the Email The recipient list reached well beyond Solon. It included businesses and offices in Chagrin Falls, Beachwood, Moreland Hills, Twinsburg, Aurora, Bainbridge, University Heights and Mentor. Realtors, contractors, restaurants, salons, medical offices and nonprofits were on the list. Government offices and political campaigns received it too. The message was signed “Solon Hometown Holiday Market Team” and asked vendors to sign up through a Tally form. Booth fees listed in the email ranged from $125 to $150. Organizer Responds NEOhio.news forwarded the email to Becki Silverstein of Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows. Avant-Garde organizes the holiday market with the City of Solon. Her reply was brief. “No this is not from us!!” she wrote. Silverstein also wants vendors to know that Avant-Garde is a legitimate company. Someone sent this email using the market’s name without permission. She said all official emails from Avant-Garde come from becki@ag-shows.com . City of Solon Confirms Its Contact Tracy Sullivan with the City of Solon also reached out to NEOhio.news. She confirmed that her email address, tsullivan@solonohio.org , is a legitimate contact for the market. The Real Market Is Still Happening The real Solon Hometown Holiday Market is not canceled. Event listings show it scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Solon Recreation Center on Portz Parkway. Admission is free. The market features local artists and crafters selling handmade items. Businesses interested in a booth should apply through the vendor portal at avantgardeshows.com. Real emails about the market come from becki@ag-shows.com or tsullivan@solonohio.org . How to Protect Your Business Vendor scams often copy the name of a real event to look trustworthy. Holiday markets are a popular target because so many small businesses are looking for booth space this time of year. Do not pay through a link in an unexpected email. Make sure any email about the Solon Hometown Holiday Market comes from becki@ag-shows.com  or  tsullivan@solonohio.org . Go directly to  Avant-Garde Art and Craft Shows  to apply as a vendor. Call your bank or card company right away if you already paid. Report suspected scams to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 800-282-0515. Frequently Asked Questions Is the Solon Hometown Holiday Market vendor email real? No. Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, the market’s organizer, confirmed the vendor email sent to Northeast Ohio businesses on Oct. 19 did not come from its team. Which Northeast Ohio communities received the fake vendor email? The list included businesses and offices in Solon, Chagrin Falls, Beachwood, Moreland Hills, Twinsburg, Aurora, Bainbridge, University Heights and Mentor, along with countywide offices. Is Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows a legitimate company? Yes. Avant-Garde is the real organizer of the Solon Hometown Holiday Market and runs it with the City of Solon. The fake email used the market’s name without its permission. How can I tell if a Solon Hometown Holiday Market email is real? Legitimate emails come from becki@ag-shows.com at Avant-Garde or tsullivan@solonohio.org at the City of Solon. An email from any other address did not come from the organizers. What should I do if I paid a booth fee through the fake email? Contact your bank or credit card company as soon as possible. You can also file a report with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 800-282-0515.