$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake concert ticket resale scam
Scammers list counterfeit or nonexistent concert tickets on resale sites and social media, collecting payment and then disappearing or sending invalid barcodes.
“ticket scam”
↑ 219%Key indicators
Usually targetsConcertgoers
Often hitsEducators and students
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers post listings for popular sold-out concerts on social media or classified sites at attractive prices
2
After receiving payment through irreversible methods, they send a screenshot of a barcode or a duplicate ticket that has already been used
3
Victims discover the ticket is invalid only at the venue entrance, and the seller has blocked all communication
What to do first
Buy tickets only from official box offices or verified resale platforms like Ticketmaster Resale or StubHub that guarantee authenticity
Related terms
counterfeit concert ticketfake resale ticketbogus e-ticket scamFake ticket scamsSocial mediaStableConcertgoersYoung adultsEvent attendeesEducators and studentsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadacounterfeit concert ticketfake resale ticket
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jennifer, 35, a concertgoers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake ticket scams situation while using Social media. Scammers post listings for popular sold-out concerts on social media or classified sites at attractive prices
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: After receiving payment through irreversible methods, they send a screenshot of a barcode or a duplicate ticket that has already been used
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims discover the ticket is invalid only at the venue entrance, and the seller has blocked all communication
The outcome
Jennifer realized something was wrong when seller insists on payment via venmo, zelle, or cryptocurrency with no buyer protection. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Buy tickets only from official box offices or verified resale platforms like Ticketmaster Resale or StubHub that guarantee authenticity Jennifer's experience shows why seller insists on payment via venmo, zelle, or cryptocurrency with no buyer protection and ticket price is significantly below face value for a sold-out event are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Seller insists on payment via Venmo, Zelle, or cryptocurrency with no buyer protection
- Ticket price is significantly below face value for a sold-out event
- Seller refuses to meet in person or use a verified resale 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 tickets only from official box offices or verified resale platforms like Ticketmaster Resale or StubHub that guarantee authenticity
- ✓Use payment methods with buyer protection such as credit cards or PayPal Goods and Services
- ✓Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the platform where the listing appeared
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.
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 reported that online purchase scams, including ticket fraud, were the riskiest scam type in 2023 with a median loss of 100 USD
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 tickets only from official box offices or verified resale platforms like Ticketmaster Resale or StubHub that guarantee authenticity
- ✓Use payment methods with buyer protection such as credit cards or PayPal Goods and Services
- ✓Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the platform where the listing appeared
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 reported that online purchase scams, including ticket fraud, were the riskiest scam type in 2023 with a median loss of 100 USD
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
Concertgoers, Young adults, Event attendees
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
Social media — Fake ticket scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Concertgoers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The ongoing nature of 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 reported that online purchase scams, including ticket fraud, were the riskiest scam type in 2023 with a median loss of 100 USD
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake concert ticket resale scam
How does the fake concert ticket resale scam work?+
Scammers post listings for popular sold-out concerts on social media or classified sites at attractive prices After receiving payment through irreversible methods, they send a screenshot of a barcode or a duplicate ticket that has already been used Victims discover the ticket is invalid only at the venue entrance, and the seller has blocked all communication
What are the warning signs of fake concert ticket resale scam?+
Seller insists on payment via Venmo, Zelle, or cryptocurrency with no buyer protection Ticket price is significantly below face value for a sold-out event Seller refuses to meet in person or use a verified resale platform
What should I do if I encounter fake concert ticket resale scam?+
Buy tickets only from official box offices or verified resale platforms like Ticketmaster Resale or StubHub that guarantee authenticity Use payment methods with buyer protection such as credit cards or PayPal Goods and Services Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the platform where the listing appeared
Who is most at risk for fake concert ticket resale scam?+
This scam primarily targets Concertgoers, Young adults, Event attendees. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Social media.
Is fake concert ticket resale scam still active?+
fake concert ticket resale scam is currently on our watch list. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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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.