Fall River craft fair organizers concerned after account caught posing as coordinator, taking money

Organizers of a Fall River craft fair are concerned after it has been learned that at least one crafter was scammed.

Jim Rogers, President of the Fall River Scholarship Foundation who puts on the Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair at Durfee High School, received a disturbing email from a young crafter Thursday. She was a victim of a scam that purported to allow her to participate in the fair. She was lucky. She got her $50 back.

Rogers noted that one of the Foundation directors checked and saw that the name, Seun William, is similar to Nigerian scams.

“My concern is that there probably are others who “took” the scam in order to be in the fair. I am reporting this to the police (Saturday) morning. Not sure if there is anything that can be done. I just don’t want to have a dozen crafters show up who are not registered with us.”

The Forty Seventh Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair will be held on December 2 and 3. The two-day event will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There is no admission charge.

There are 35 crafters from Fall River who will be showing their hand-crafted work. The deadline for signing up has passed, so if someone tries to sign you up onto the vendor list, it is a scam.

Proceeds from the Fair will be awarded in the form of scholarships to Fall River students next June.