Holiday market scam in Cambridge prompts warning from city
Posted Aug 5, 2026 07:06:33 AM.
Last Updated Aug 5, 2026 04:00:18 PM.
City officials said scammers have been looking to take advantage of vendors interested in the annual Winterfest’s Holiday Market.
The market attracts thousands of visitors each November, with 7,000 shoppers supporting over 200 local vendors just last year.
Several months before the event this November 27-29, the city is warning of a phishing scam where victims are being approached by someone claiming to be from the market.
“Scammers have contacted small business owners via email, asking them to apply to be part of Winterfest’s Holiday Market with a link to a fake application,” read the notice.
“The email uses details about the event to dupe the recipient into sending money.”
The city stressed it never uses Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, or other web-based email services for communication.
The only way to apply to be part of the Cambridge Holiday Market is through the city’s website.
Waterloo regional police have been notified.
If you have received a suspicious email and are unsure whether or not it is legitimate, you’re being asked to contact ServiceCambridge@cambridge.ca.
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