Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach Police are warning the public about a scam tied to a popular coastal event. Police say fake online pages are targeting vendors. The messages appear professional and convincing. Authorities say these are scam pages and are not connected to the city.

OBPD confirmed it has received reports of a fraudulent Facebook event and vendor payment scam involving the 2026 Orange Beach Seafood Festival. The scam uses the festival’s name and branding to appear legitimate to small businesses.

According to police, scammers are posing as festival organizers and contacting vendors directly. The messages request payment to secure vendor space. Officials stressed that these requests are false and not associated with the City of Orange Beach or the official Seafood Festival.

The City of Orange Beach said it does not solicit vendor payments through random emails, direct messages, or unofficial social media pages. City officials urged vendors to only rely on official city communication channels when seeking event information.

Police are asking vendors and business owners to pause before responding to unsolicited messages. Verifying event details through the city’s official website or confirmed social media accounts can help prevent financial loss.

Authorities also outlined steps for anyone who may have been targeted. Victims are advised not to send money under any circumstances. Any suspicious pages or messages should be reported directly to Facebook.

Police recommend contacting a bank or credit card provider immediately if payment information was shared. Filing a report with a local police department is also encouraged to help track fraudulent activity.

Officials say scams like this can spread quickly during major event planning periods. They are asking the public to share the warning to protect local vendors and the broader business community from financial fraud.