The Sconi

As football season gets underway, reports have emerged of scammers targeting food truck vendors by inviting them to participate in fake “fan events” near sports stadiums. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), these scammers request payment of vendor fees through peer-to-peer banking apps such as Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal. Vendors who pay these fraudulent fees are unlikely to recover their money.

The scheme involves the use of multiple Gmail accounts by scammers to reach potential victims. By rotating between different email addresses, the perpetrators can bypass automated spam filters. This tactic allows them to continue sending scam messages even if some accounts are flagged or shut down.

While current reports indicate that food truck vendors near stadiums are being targeted, DATCP notes that this type of scam is not limited to sporting events. Similar businesses may also be at risk.

DATCP has provided several recommendations for businesses to protect themselves from these scams:

“Avoid interacting with unexpected and unsolicited messages. Do not respond, click links, open attachments, or use contact information included in unsolicited and unverified emails.”

“Pause, investigate, and verify. Instead of acting on a great offer right away, research the event details online. If there is no public information about the event, or if the event is real but its official contact information differs from the suspicious message, the message should be considered a scam.”

“Remember: Scammers can ‘spoof’ an email address, disguising it as a trustworthy source. Even if an email looks real, reach out directly to the organization using official contact information that can be found online.​”

“Do not pay fees through payment apps. A trustworthy organization will not demand payment through a peer-to-peer banking app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or with pre-paid gift cards.”

Food truck operators and other small business owners are urged to remain cautious when approached with offers that seem too good to be true or come from unfamiliar sources. DATCP emphasizes that payments requested via unconventional methods such as peer-to-peer apps or cryptocurrency are often signs of fraudulent activity.

Vendors who believe they have been targeted or victimized by this type of scam are encouraged to seek more information and resources from DATCP’s Consumer Protection webpage or file a complaint through their hotline at (800) 422-7128.

This warning comes amid ongoing concerns about scams affecting small businesses during busy sports seasons and large events. DATCP continues its efforts to inform and protect Wisconsin’s business community against evolving fraud schemes.