Swifties beware!
Vancouver is all set to host music superstar Taylor Swift for the first time since 2015 with the December arrival of the singer’s Eras Tour.
The three-night stop in B.C. has led to skyrocketing prices for hotels and rentals across Metro Vancouver, and with tickets officially sold out, fans are turning to other sources with the hope they’ll be able to secure tickets.
Concerts and other big ticketed events can be a hot spot for scammers looking to use the allure of the event to trick fans into buying fake tickets, even going so far as to hack social media accounts, impersonate users, and sell off fake tickets.
In Toronto, police caught and charged a scammer who used social media to reportedly scam over $70,000 in fake Taylor Swift concert tickets.
In Vancouver, a profile was hacked and then impersonated. The scammers sold fake Swift tickets and stole over $2,000 from fans who were hoping to attend the Eras tour.
Story reported to the BBB Scam Tracker
“My [social media platform] was hacked. The person put second [factor] authentication on it so I'm not able to gain access. They posted Taylor Swift tickets for sale, took over my [platform] messenger and proceeded to pretend to be me when people inquired. They managed to get $2,000 from people for these nonexistent concert tickets (those are just the people that I know for sure). Many people reported my page. They got a response saying no wrongdoing was happening and my page is still up. I have reported it as well. I’m, of course, upset that I’ve lost many memories, but I'm more upset that people are being scammed out of thousands of dollars. At what point is [social media platform] aiding these hackers? I get that it’s buyer beware, but when does it become the platform's responsibility to put a stop to these scams?”
Tips when buying tickets to a big show
Only buy tickets from trusted vendors
- Even if you can no longer get tickets directly from the venue or authorized ticket sellers, look to reputable ticket brokers before doing business with a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller) or a random stranger on social media.
- Note: The Ticket Sales Act, which applies to businesses that sell and resell tickets to live events in B.C., does not cover pricing or availability. For more information on what the Ticket Sales Act covers, visit Consumer Protection B.C.
If you think you know the seller, double-check
- Scammers may hack your contacts’ accounts and pretend to be a friend or acquaintance who’s selling tickets. Before sending money, contact your friend directly to make sure the deal is real.
Watch out for too-good-to-be-true deals
- If someone claims to be selling tickets to a sold-out concert just before the date or at an amazing price, think twice. Scammers love to prey on fans of any artist or sporting event by claiming to have impossible-to-get-tickets for them.
Use good judgment with advertisements
- Some ads are scams, whether after a general internet search or in your social media feed. Be careful about clicking through and offering up personal information.
Use your credit card
- Credit cards generally offer extra protection in case you find out the tickets were a sham. You may not get your money back if you pay with your debit card, a cash transfer app, or cash.
If you've been the victim of a scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Sharing your experience can help others avoid falling victim to similar scams.
