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No one is safe from scammers and cybercrime, not even the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition (CLE), whose fair vendors were deceived by fraudsters this week.
Thunder Bay city police are warning food and retail vendors, food trucks, artisans, retail businesses and service providers to be aware of a scam that invites them to sign up for the 2026 CLE Exhibition.
“The fraudsters are claiming they represent the CLE,” says a city police spokesperson. “They are requesting that interested businesses complete application forms, provide personal and business information, and submit payments to reserve vendor spaces for the event.”
Police added that these communications are not authorized by the CLE and are not being conducted through official CLE channels.
The scammers do not represent the CLE in any capacity and are using the email address canadianlakeheadvendors@gmail.com.
“The unauthorized use of the CLE name and event branding has the potential to mislead vendors, obtain personal information under false pretenses, and collect fraudulent payments from prospective exhibitors,” police said.
Jassim Abdul-Rahman, CLE office supervisor, alerted police to the scam. He said under no circumstances would the CLE contact or solicit potential vendors.
“There are three ways to become a vendor at the 2026 Canadian Lakehead Exhibition and fair,” Abdul-Rahman said.
“You have to come in person to the CLE administration office at 425 Northern Avenue. That’s the first option. The second option is you can give us a call at 807-622-6473. The third option is you can reach out to us with the email, which is clex@tbaytel.net. That is our official email.”
The CLE and police caution people receiving a fraudulent email from scammers that appears realistic.
“The vendors must come to us, because we don’t reach out to vendors and we don’t send emails,” he stressed.
“If anybody’s interested and they want to be a part of the CLE as a vendor, they come out to us, give us a call, or send us an email. The yearly committee and the board of directors decide who’s going to be a part of this annual fair.”
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