Today, the Georgia Department of Agriculture is warning the public about a fraudulent event being promoted as the “2026 GATE Atlanta Vendor & Artisan Market,” advertised for August 21–23, 2026, at the Atlanta State Farmers’ Market (ASFM) in Forest Park.
What are the details of this scam? The event, which is advertised on Facebook, appears to be a scam designed to solicit business information and payment from unsuspecting Georgians.
The advertisement, posted by an account called Vendor Space Agency, features several fraudulent details meant to entice investment from Georgians.
For example, the ad calls on artisans, crafters, makers, food vendors, clothing brands, beauty and wellness businesses, home décor brands, and small businesses to apply for vendorship status. It then claims that vendor spaces are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
What Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper had to say:
- “Our team at the Department works every day to protect consumers from fraudsters. I encourage all Georgians to remain vigilant when it comes to online scams: never provide personal or business information and remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Further Context: This fraudulent event will not occur as advertised, and a cease-and-desist letter has been sent to the alleged organizer.
Members of the public are urged to exercise caution and avoid providing payment, personal or business information, or other sensitive information to individuals promoting or soliciting vendors for the event.
Government impersonation and fake grant scams like this are among the fastest-growing categories of fraud in the country.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, complaints involving this kind of impersonation have surged dramatically, with tens of thousands of incidents each year.
Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have become the primary vectors, and scammers often use them to post fraudulent announcements like the one discussed above.
The victimization rate for this kind of fraud is relatively high, especially since it targets vulnerable populations. Low-income households, the elderly, and students are warned particularly, and Georgians are reminded to double-check everything they find on social media.
