What is a Ticket Scam and How to Spot a Ticket Scammer

In 2015 the Better Business Bureau (BBB) received its first Taylor Swift ticket scam report, sent to its online Scam Tracker. Since then, over 150 reports have appeared about Taylor Swift scammers—most happening in 2024. Taylor Swift’s fans aren’t the only group targeted by ticket scammers either; these scams can target the audiences of concerts, sports games, festivals, events, and more. 

What is a ticket scam? It’s when a scammer offers counterfeit or invalid tickets to buyers before disappearing with the payment. These characters target consumers looking to save money or reserve particular places within an event, like front-row seats. Ticket scams can have a substantial financial and emotional toll on victims, not only because of the loss of money but also because relationships can suffer from the missed “promise” of an event. 

However, consumers can discern fake ticket scams from legitimate opportunities if the consumer knows where to look. Below, discover how ticket scammers operate, their warning signs, how to verify a ticket’s authenticity, and steps for protecting yourself from ticket scammers.

What Are Fake Ticket Scams?

Ticket scams can occur for any ticket-needed event and even for some events where no tickets are necessary; it all comes down to the scammer’s skills versus the victim’s knowledge and skepticism. Usually, ticket scammers will try to target victims looking to attend high-value venues or limited-time specials, but some can also profit from falsifying stories. 

The most common of these manufactured stories is that they (the scammer) cannot attend the event they ‘have’ tickets for due to some conflicting obligation. These obligations range from weddings falling on the same day to family members in hospitals; almost always, though, these scammers give the impression that they must sell their tickets at a loss, tricking their victim into thinking they’ve (1) obtained tickets they badly desire and (2) got them at a discounted price. 

In reality, once the victim sends the scammer their payment, the scammer either disappears without recourse or provides false ticket information. So, do you know how to avoid ticket scams? 

How Do Ticket Scammers Operate?

Avoiding ticket scams is relatively simple: buy the tickets ahead of time from a reputable ticket merchant. However, this isn’t great advice for procrastinators. Instead, we suggest becoming familiar with how scammers operate. If buyers can recognize the patterns and inconsistencies of scammers, they are more likely to avoid falling victim to scammers, scalpers, and all their malicious, fraudulent cousins.

Selling Counterfeit Tickets

Unless you’re a die-hard fan or a ticket collector, most people are unfamiliar with physical tickets or the elements that mark them with authenticity. Like counterfeit money, some tickets can appear authentic despite being created by a scammer. These realistic-looking fake tickets are a particular issue for concert ticket scams, as most concert venues have unique designs that anyone can easily replicate but are unique to the venue itself. Most buyers won’t even notice they’re holding fake tickets until they are turned away at the doors. 

Offering Tickets That Don’t Exist

Other scammers might offer tickets without a physical counterpart. They might promise tickets before disappearing with their victim’s money, or they might attempt to sell tickets they don’t have. Some scammers may even attempt to sell tickets for events that don’t require them, betting that some event-goers won’t be familiar with the attendance processes or know any better. Either way, these scammers leave their victims with lighter wallets and nothing to show for it. 

Phishing Websites and Fake Marketplaces

Scammers can also run their schemes online. They may make social media posts about needing to get rid of their tickets for some reason or another, then present a link where interested parties can see more information. Other times, they may speak with their victims directly before sending them a malicious link. These links are dangerous for various reasons, not the least of which is that the scammer can create information phishing web pages or fake marketplaces designed to steal the financial data of those who interact with them. 

Last-Minute Urgency Tactics

The tactics that make the most victims are those that use urgency to pressure prospects into immediate decision-making. These hasty decisions rush buyers into making purchases without allowing time for critical reasoning. In the case of ticket scams, this often looks like a scammer offering “one ticket left” deals or “time-sensitive” options. These scams are also highly successful at the end of a ticket-selling period, where most tickets are sold out or unavailable for purchase.  

Red Flag of Ticket Scammers

When you spot those, it’s better to stop the communication ASAP!

Unrealistically Low Prices

Do you know how to spot a ticket scammer? Statistically, most people encountering a scammer will be immediately tipped off because of one or two aspects of the interaction. For example, some scammers make victims because of their “too good to be true” agreements; they may offer high-value tickets, like a center arena, first few rows, type of tickets, for only a few hundred dollars; compare that price with the thousands of dollars others might be paying, and a victim would jump at the chance to “save money.” 

Pressure to Use Unsecured Payment Methods

Other scammers might reveal themselves only after their prospective victim has agreed to buy the fake tickets. Scammers like this will use payment methods that do not have buyer protection, like wire transfers between banks, peer-to-peer applications like Zelle or Paypal, or gift cards that they can redeem for cash later. Scammers who utilize these methods to obtain cash are often aggressive with their victims, pressuring them into accepting the terms of their agreement rather than using more secure methods to make the transaction.

Lack of Verifiable Information

Scammers who offer a fake service or product, like tickets, must disappear after they have the resources they want, usually cash or information. Consequently, scammers avoid sharing information about themselves. For example, if a scammer attempted to sell some event tickets online, they may offer vague details about themselves, like “I’m a frequent concertgoer.” Still, they couldn’t provide specific proof of their claims: “I can’t show you the details of the ticket—you could steal it from me!” 

Suspicious Communication

Of course, the most significant red flag brought on by scammers is their suspicious communication styles. These are more than suspicious links and general rude dispositions; these messages can involve poor grammar, strong or abusive language, and generic or candid responses to inquiries. If the seller is speaking with or acting cold, overly familiar, or indifferent to the buyer, it’s a red flag to use caution.

How To Verify a Ticket’s Authenticity

Here are some smart tactics to distinguish between really good offers and ticket scammers. 

Purchase from Official Sources

The easiest way to avoid buying fake tickets is to buy them from official sources and platforms. Event organizers often place tickets online for purchase weeks or months before the event, so many buyers have more than enough time to save and purchase the tickets they want. However, there are also verifiable ticket resale platforms that can offer better deals on tickets—it just depends on the event. 

Check the Barcode or QR Code

Specific event organizers have begun using QR codes as ticket verification, similar to airplane boarding passes and redemption deals at cinemas. These bar codes are attached to the buyer’s name, so when entering the event, the officials only need to scan the code to determine if the buyer is in the correct place. The codes also deter ticket scammers because buyers can go online and check that they have the correct access for what they’ve purchased. 

Research the Seller or Platform

Depending on the platform, buyers can check a potential seller’s transaction histories and reviews. Platforms that utilize rating systems usually have a lower occurrence of scammers than Facebook Marketplace because the sellers are verified multiple times by multiple people. Chances are good that if a seller offering low-cost tickets is real, they’ll have the ratings and history to prove it. 

Avoid Unsecured Payment Methods

As mentioned above, many scammers collect payments through unsecured methods because it allows them to ‘get away’ without a trace. However, if a seller offers a transaction using credit cards or platforms with buyer protections, it indicates that the buyer is interacting with an authentic ticket merchant. 

Common Scenarios Where Fake Ticket Scams Happen

Ticket scams are not likely to occur for every event but may occur for specific ones. How to tell when you might run into a fake ticket scam? Determine how badly others want to go to the event, as the Taylor Swift concerts cited in the introduction of this article. Usually, sold-out events and high-demand concerts can have scammers lurking on the fringes. 

However, entertainment and concerts aren’t the only times scammers appear. Major sports games like the various football ‘bowls,’ playoffs, championships, and rare duels (like those in boxing or UFC) may have scammers looking for some quick cash. By that same token, limited-edition shows, one-night-only performances, and final tour concerts are high-volume targets for ticket scammers. 

How To Protect Yourself from Ticket Scammers

Choose to be proactive and identify scammers early before they manage to steal your money or personal data. 

Buy Tickets Early

Do you know how to avoid getting scammed buying tickets? Buying tickets early from verifiable merchants is the surest way to prevent yourself from falling victim to ticket scammers. Early purchases eliminate the potential for victimization later, as scammers work to trick last-minute and procrastinating buyers. 

Use Verified Resale Platforms

Authentic resale platforms are also key to avoiding scams; Ticketmaster and StubHub are some of the most widely used resale options, offering secure transactions through their services. This isn’t to say that eBay isn’t secure; it’s easier for scammers to manipulate victims into transactions when the platform lacks specialized securities. 

Avoid Sharing Personal Information

Scammers could also be after more than a quick payment. It’s unlikely that a scammer would request personal details in a direct message setting, but if they redirect a buyer to an ‘outside’ web page, that changes things. Buyers should always be cautious when accessing a link sent to them by a stranger, and they should never expose their personal information.

Trust Your Instincts

Many consumers can protect themselves from scammers by simply listening to their instincts. If the scammer’s messages seem off, if they offer benefits that seem too good to be true, or if there are elements in their offering that seem unusual, these are moments that should indicate to a buyer that something is wrong. 

What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed

What should you do when you realize you fell victim to ticket scammers? Some steps are must-to right after the fraud happened. 

Report the Scam

Those who think they’ve been scammed buying tickets should speak with officials about retribution. The event organizers, ticket platforms, and local authorities should all be contacted about the situation. Moreover, victims can also report the scam to the BBB, the FTC, and the FBI to assist experts in identifying and preventing these scams from happening to other consumers. 

Contact Your Payment Provider

Some victims may also benefit from discussing their options with their financial providers. For example, some buyers may be able to dispute the fake tickets as a fraudulent transaction, while others may find that they can request chargebacks to their accounts. A victim will only know their options by speaking with a representative from their institution.

Spread Awareness

Victims might also consider sharing their experiences online. It’s one thing to read an article about ticket scams—it’s another to have the scam happen to an acquaintance or family member. In this sense, victims can help prevent the scam from happening to other people by sharing the details of their situation. It may even stop a buyer from becoming a scammer’s next victim. 

Ticket scams have always existed, but in the last few decades, they’ve taken on a life of their own. Luckily, like most other scams, red flags tip off potential victims to the scheme, as long as they can recognize them before it’s too late—things like too-good-to-be-true deals, pressure to move, unverifiable details, and suspicious messages. 

If buyers share their experiences and knowledge, they can help prevent others from falling into a scammer’s trap. The more vigilant a buyer is, the easier it is to avoid and prevent scammers from stealing their targets’ personal and financial information.