SCAM LIBRARY · BUYING & SELLING
The event-ticket resale scam
Scammers pose as ticket sellers online, take your money for events that don't exist or tickets that were never delivered.
Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-07
How it works
You find what looks like a legitimate listing for hard-to-get event tickets at a good price on a resale website or social media. The seller pressures you to pay quickly—often through untraceable methods—claiming other buyers are interested or the price is about to go up. Once you pay, the tickets never arrive, or you discover they're fake or already used.
What it can look like
You see a social media post advertising tickets to a popular concert at below face value. The seller asks you to send payment through a wire transfer or gift card right away because 'another buyer is ready to buy.' You pay, but when you try to use the tickets at the venue, they don't work—or you never receive them at all.
Red flags
- Seller pressures you to pay quickly or through untraceable methods (wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency).
- Price seems too good to be true compared to official ticket vendors.
- Seller avoids using the legitimate resale platform's official payment system.
- Seller has no verifiable history, reviews are missing, or accounts are brand new.
- You're asked to complete the transaction off-platform or keep the purchase private.
What to do
- Buy tickets only through official event venues, authorized resellers, or well-established platforms with buyer protection.
- Use payment methods that offer protection (credit cards, PayPal Goods & Services) and avoid wire transfers, gift cards, or cash-equivalent payments.
- Report the scam to the platform where you found the listing, and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.