$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake parking pass scam
Scammers sell counterfeit parking passes for event venues, stadiums, and airports, leaving buyers with worthless passes and potential towing charges.
“ticket scam”
↑ 219%Key indicators
Usually targetsSports fans
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers list parking passes on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for popular venues at below-market prices
2
Buyers receive a printed or emailed pass that appears legitimate but is not registered in the parking system
3
Victims arrive at the venue only to be denied entry to the lot, and may also face towing if they park with a counterfeit pass
What to do first
Purchase parking passes only through the venue official website or authorized parking operators
Related terms
counterfeit parking permitfake event parkingstadium parking scamFake ticket scamsCraigslistStableSports fansTravelersEvent attendeesSmall business ownersReal estate professionals and homebuyersTravelersUnited StatesCanadacounterfeit parking permitfake event parking
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Andrew, 35, a sports fans, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake ticket scams situation while using Craigslist. Scammers list parking passes on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for popular venues at below-market prices
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Buyers receive a printed or emailed pass that appears legitimate but is not registered in the parking system
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims arrive at the venue only to be denied entry to the lot, and may also face towing if they park with a counterfeit pass
The outcome
Andrew realized something was wrong when parking pass is offered on classified sites at a steep discount for a high-demand event. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Purchase parking passes only through the venue official website or authorized parking operators Andrew's experience shows why parking pass is offered on classified sites at a steep discount for a high-demand event and seller cannot provide a verifiable confirmation number from the official parking operator are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Parking pass is offered on classified sites at a steep discount for a high-demand event
- Seller cannot provide a verifiable confirmation number from the official parking operator
- Pass is a simple printout without any security features such as holograms or unique barcodes
- 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
- ✓Purchase parking passes only through the venue official website or authorized parking operators
- ✓Contact the venue parking office to verify the pass before the event day
- ✓Report the listing to the classified platform and file a complaint with your local consumer protection agency
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 ticket and parking pass scams spike around major sporting events, with thousands of complaints filed annually
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.
- ✓Purchase parking passes only through the venue official website or authorized parking operators
- ✓Contact the venue parking office to verify the pass before the event day
- ✓Report the listing to the classified platform and file a complaint with your local consumer protection agency
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 ticket and parking pass scams spike around major sporting events, with thousands of complaints filed annually
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
Sports fans, Travelers, Event attendees
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Craigslist — Fake ticket scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Sports fans 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 reports that ticket and parking pass scams spike around major sporting events, with thousands of complaints filed annually
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake parking pass scam
How does the fake parking pass scam work?+
Scammers list parking passes on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for popular venues at below-market prices Buyers receive a printed or emailed pass that appears legitimate but is not registered in the parking system Victims arrive at the venue only to be denied entry to the lot, and may also face towing if they park with a counterfeit pass
What are the warning signs of fake parking pass scam?+
Parking pass is offered on classified sites at a steep discount for a high-demand event Seller cannot provide a verifiable confirmation number from the official parking operator Pass is a simple printout without any security features such as holograms or unique barcodes
What should I do if I encounter fake parking pass scam?+
Purchase parking passes only through the venue official website or authorized parking operators Contact the venue parking office to verify the pass before the event day Report the listing to the classified platform and file a complaint with your local consumer protection agency
Who is most at risk for fake parking pass scam?+
This scam primarily targets Sports fans, Travelers, Event attendees. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Craigslist.
Is fake parking pass scam still active?+
fake parking pass scam is currently on our watch list. It has been reported across US, 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.