Victoria-based festival warns public after being target of vendor scam

The Vancouver Island Caribbean Hub, organizers of i-Land Fest in Victoria, is raising concerns after becoming the target of a recent vendor scam.

The scam has also impacted other festivals, with organizers urging the community to stay vigilant.

In recent weeks, unknown individuals created a fake i-Land Festival Facebook page, then used paid advertisements to direct vendors to a fraudulent application form.

Businesses believed they were registering for i-Land Festival, but ended up giving their information and payments to the scammers.

“We’re seeing a troubling pattern where scammers are targeting cultural events and small businesses,” said Kara Randall, co-founder of the Vancouver Island Caribbean Hub.

“Vendors trust these platforms, and unfortunately, that trust is being exploited.”

At least one payment of $400 was made to the scammers from a local business, while another one stopped their payment in time.

In response to this, the Caribbean Hub has offered a complimentary space at this year’s festival to the business affected.

In an effort to address the issue, the organization has secured verification status for their official Facebook page to prevent impersonation. The fraudulent form and account have also been reported to the platform, and festival officials have requested the form’s removal.

The Caribbean Hub wants to raise awareness about the incident, noting that this type of scam may be affecting multiple local festivals.

They urge the public to make sure they are avoiding transactions through unofficial links and contacting organizations directly if unsure about anything.

“This isn’t just about our festival,” Randall said. “It’s about protecting our community and making sure people have the information they need to avoid being taken advantage of.”

The Vancouver Island Caribbean Hub hopes that increased awareness will help prevent further incidents. They are encouraging anyone who thinks they may have been affected to come forward.

For those interested in attending the festival, it will be taking place in multiple locations from July 1st to 5th. For more information visit the i-Land Festival website here.