$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Craigslist ticket resale scam
Scammers sell fake or duplicate concert, sports, or event tickets on Craigslist, leaving buyers unable to enter the venue.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsConcert-goers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$80
median reported loss
Typical range$16 – $800
Recovery rate~40%
Annual reports370,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers list tickets to popular events on Craigslist, often with convincing screenshots of the tickets or barcodes.
2
Buyers send payment through irreversible methods, and the scammer sends fake PDFs, invalid barcodes, or duplicate tickets already used by someone else.
3
The buyer discovers the tickets are worthless only when they try to enter the venue.
What to do first
Buy resale tickets only through verified platforms like Ticketmaster, StubHub, or SeatGeek that offer buyer guarantees.
Related terms
fake event ticketscounterfeit ticket scamCraigslist concert ticket fraudOnline shopping scamsCraigslistSurgingConcert-goersSports fansYoung adultsSmall business ownersReal estate professionals and homebuyersEducators and studentsUnited StatesCanadafake event ticketscounterfeit ticket scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jennifer, 35, a concert-goers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate online shopping scams situation while using Craigslist. Scammers list tickets to popular events on Craigslist, often with convincing screenshots of the tickets or barcodes.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Buyers send payment through irreversible methods, and the scammer sends fake PDFs, invalid barcodes, or duplicate tickets already used by someone else.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The buyer discovers the tickets are worthless only when they try to enter the venue.
The outcome
Jennifer realized something was wrong when tickets priced below face value for a sold-out event. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Buy resale tickets only through verified platforms like Ticketmaster, StubHub, or SeatGeek that offer buyer guarantees. Jennifer's experience shows why tickets priced below face value for a sold-out event and seller only accepts payment methods with no buyer protection like zelle, venmo, or cash app are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Tickets priced below face value for a sold-out event
- Seller only accepts payment methods with no buyer protection like Zelle, Venmo, or cash app
- Seller cannot provide a verifiable ticket transfer through the official ticketing platform
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Buy resale tickets only through verified platforms like Ticketmaster, StubHub, or SeatGeek that offer buyer guarantees.
- ✓If buying from an individual, insist on an official in-app ticket transfer that verifies authenticity.
- ✓Report ticket fraud to the FTC and local law enforcement.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Preserve the listing ID, reservation ID, or the exact item URL because platform support will usually ask for it.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB reports that event ticket scams are among the most common seasonal frauds, spiking during concert tours and major sporting events.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Buy resale tickets only through verified platforms like Ticketmaster, StubHub, or SeatGeek that offer buyer guarantees.
- ✓If buying from an individual, insist on an official in-app ticket transfer that verifies authenticity.
- ✓Report ticket fraud to the FTC and local law enforcement.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB reports that event ticket scams are among the most common seasonal frauds, spiking during concert tours and major sporting events.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Concert-goers, Sports fans, Young adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Craigslist — Online shopping scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Concert-goers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB reports that event ticket scams are among the most common seasonal frauds, spiking during concert tours and major sporting events.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about craigslist ticket resale scam
How does the craigslist ticket resale scam work?+
Scammers list tickets to popular events on Craigslist, often with convincing screenshots of the tickets or barcodes. Buyers send payment through irreversible methods, and the scammer sends fake PDFs, invalid barcodes, or duplicate tickets already used by someone else. The buyer discovers the tickets are worthless only when they try to enter the venue.
What are the warning signs of craigslist ticket resale scam?+
Tickets priced below face value for a sold-out event Seller only accepts payment methods with no buyer protection like Zelle, Venmo, or cash app Seller cannot provide a verifiable ticket transfer through the official ticketing platform
What should I do if I encounter craigslist ticket resale scam?+
Buy resale tickets only through verified platforms like Ticketmaster, StubHub, or SeatGeek that offer buyer guarantees. If buying from an individual, insist on an official in-app ticket transfer that verifies authenticity. Report ticket fraud to the FTC and local law enforcement.
Who is most at risk for craigslist ticket resale scam?+
This scam primarily targets Concert-goers, Sports fans, Young adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Craigslist.
Is craigslist ticket resale scam getting worse?+
Craigslist ticket resale scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Recent reports
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.