By Chantel Jackson, Founder of My Local Market Directory
We know that times are tough, but scammers represent the lowest of the low. Many in our industry work incredibly hard to create and manage their business, often spending hours after their full-time jobs to fuel their market and event hustle.
Here are some of the best ways to slow down and STOP the scammers.
#1 – Facebook Events
For Organizers:
Creating Your Facebook Events:
- Set Clear Contact Options: In your event description, specify how you want to be contacted (email or phone number). Remember, market organizers will only use their official page to contact you, not personal accounts unless you know them personally.
- Enable Comment Approval: To prevent scammers from commenting, make it so that all comments need to be approved by you. Keep notifications on so you don’t miss legitimate comments and meaningful tags. As Anita Savage from @Southsidecollectivemarkets suggests, this feature significantly reduces scam comments. You can turn this on in the communication tab when creating an event.
- Use an Official Page: Ensure that your event is created from your market/event page instead of a group. This builds trust and authenticity. If you create a page, link to the group to reinforce that you are legitimate. ✅
- Co-host with My Local Market Directory: Listing your event with us for only $24 a year allows you to add us as a co-host, so people can verify you’re listed legitimately with us!
- Stallholders, Don’t Create Your Own Events: As organizers, we spend hours and resources on branding and advertising. Creating your own events can confuse attendees, leading them to believe it could be a scam. Instead, share the official event on your page by selecting it and using the three dots to add it to your page.
- Need Help Creating Events?: If you’re a market or event organizer looking for assistance, just drop me an email at find@mylocalmarketdirectory.com.au. I’m here to help you get listed and advertised like a pro! 📧
#2 – Comments
- If You See It, REPORT IT!: Anyone can report a comment including you! As a co-host for several markets/events, I monitor comments actively and block/remove suspicious ones. Reporting suspicious comments helps Facebook recognize and address these issues.
- Beware of “Available” Claims: If you see comments stating that sites are still available, don’t trust them. Reach out to the organiser with details from their page not the person commenting.
#3 – Things to Look At Stallholders
- Profile Names: Look out for generic names like “Melissa Green Event Manager” or “Market Organizer Susie Bell.” Legitimate organizers will use their official pages for comments, which include their information and links. ✨
- Profile Photos: Real market profiles should contain relevant images ideally of the person at a market or in a high-visibility vest. Wedding photos are a red flag!
- Account Creation Date: If an account was created less than three months ago, exercise caution. Most genuine organizers have established profiles well before going public.
- Empty Profiles: If a profile has no photo or very few connections, it’s likely not legitimate. As Sheree Piesse mentions, looking at profiles and business reviews can help uncover scams. Take a moment to review your local markets; it can make a big difference and help others to know that they are real.
- Check with Other Stallholders: Reach out and ask what other stallholders are attending. Communication is key to verifying authenticity. 🔠We are a great industry and helping is what we are all about.
- Equipment Supply: Remember that most market organizers do not supply tables, chairs, and gazebos. Some venues may supply them but typically at an extra cost. These events are normally at the Convention Centres etc.
- Payment Methods:
- Paperwork on the Day: Some markets may say you can fill out paperwork and pay on the day. Approach this with caution.
- Trusted Market Stallholder Systems: Many markets use systems like Ozee Market Booking Manager, which require online payments beforehand. These systems can verify the market’s legitimacy.
- Red Flags: If you’re asked to transfer funds via services like Venmo, consider it a serious warning sign. Legitimate markets usually have secure, established payment processes.
Make It Easier for Everyone
If MLMD cannot find you then customers can’t find you. They won’t engage with your business, and your market or event won’t grow. Here’s how to increase your visibility:
- Update Contact Details: Ensure your Facebook and social have contact details. Example, email, social media links, Phone number, a photo of the orgainiser helps. I use Linktr.ee to have all my details there together and it can create a QR code that those interested in becoming a stallholder can scan at the market and they have your details. Links to your applications, Dates of the markets, etc. If you need to add or change something, you update and it updates everyone who scans that link from then on.
- Get Listed: on My Local Market Directory as a Market, Stallholder, Food Truck. Have the link on your social media, websites etc. If you don’t have a website, you can add your listing link on our socials as your website. You can have everything listed on their in one place. Will trick the algorithm into thinking you have one and will get you more views. If you are listed with other directory’s ,make sure your information is up to date. Example if you are a ATDW listing add it into your contact page also.
If you have any other ideas on how to keep scammers away, please email Chantel on find@mylocalmarketdirectory.com.au or find all our details at Linktr.ee on our Link https://linktr.ee/mylocalmarketdirectory
Take care and make sure you share with your other Market Friends. This is the kind on info we want to share for the right reasons not the wrong ones.
Cheers Chantel Jackson – Founder of My Local Market Directory
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