The organizers of Kamloops Ribfest are warning vendors and Family Fun Zone participants to be cautious after scam emails began circulating claiming to offer vendor opportunities for the 2026 event.

In a statement posted to Facebook, Ribfest organizers said they became aware of fraudulent emails targeting potential vendors and clarified that all official applications must go through the event’s website.

“To be clear: the ONLY way to apply is through our website,” the post stated. “We do NOT accept applications through email.”

The warning comes as the Kamloops Sports Council prepares to host the popular summer event for the first time after taking over operations from Rotary.

Kamloops Sports Council Executive Director Duncan Olthius said the organization was first alerted to the scam by a vendor who received a suspicious message advertising food vendor opportunities.

“The email looked very professional,” Olthius said. “There were some inconsistencies with it, so that’s why they reached back out to us.”

According to Olthius, the fraudulent message referenced the Kamloops Sports Council taking over Ribfest and included details about festival proceeds, making it appear legitimate to recipients. However, the email originated from a Gmail account rather than an official Ribfest address.

“We just want to remind everybody that to apply for a vendor, don’t do it through an email — it’s always going to be on our website,” he said. “And obviously don’t send funds to an email that’s not coming from the Kamloops Sports Council or Kamloops Ribfest.”

Organizers said official communications regarding food vendors will come from verified Ribfest email accounts associated with the Kamloops Sports Council.

Olthius noted the organization encountered similar issues during the Kamloops Christmas Market, with several vendors contacting organizers to verify suspicious emails before sending money or information.

The council is urging anyone who receives questionable communications about Ribfest to contact organizers directly for verification.

The scam warning comes as preparations continue for the 2026 festival, scheduled for Aug. 7. Olthius said planning is progressing well despite the challenges of taking over a long-running community event.

“There’s a lot of big shoes to fill with the way that Rotary did it,” he said. “We’re good to kind of carry that torch and keep it going for this year.”

He added that volunteers for the event will soon be recruited as preparations ramp up over the coming months.