$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
graduation ceremony ticket scam
Scammers sell fake extra graduation ceremony tickets to students and families through social media and third-party websites, taking payment for tickets that do not exist or are counterfeit.
“student scam”
↑ 271%Key indicators
Usually targetsCollege students
Often hitsEducators and students
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
As graduation approaches and ticket demand exceeds supply, scammers post fake ticket offers on Facebook groups, Reddit, and resale platforms.
2
Families pay premium prices through Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App, which offer no buyer protection for goods not received.
3
The tickets either never arrive, are duplicates that are rejected at the door, or are for the wrong ceremony date or venue.
What to do first
Only obtain graduation tickets through your university's official ticketing system or registrar's office.
Related terms
fake commencement ticketsgraduation ticket fraudbogus ceremony passesStudent-targeted scamsSocial mediaRisingCollege studentsParentsEducators and studentsParents and familiesUnited StatesUnited Kingdomfake commencement ticketsgraduation ticket fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Daniel, 21, a college students, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate student-targeted scams situation while using Social media. As graduation approaches and ticket demand exceeds supply, scammers post fake ticket offers on Facebook groups, Reddit, and resale platforms.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Families pay premium prices through Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App, which offer no buyer protection for goods not received.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The tickets either never arrive, are duplicates that are rejected at the door, or are for the wrong ceremony date or venue.
The outcome
Daniel realized something was wrong when seller is offering tickets on social media or a third-party site rather than through the university. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Only obtain graduation tickets through your university's official ticketing system or registrar's office. Daniel's experience shows why seller is offering tickets on social media or a third-party site rather than through the university and price is inflated well beyond face value with no refund policy are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Seller is offering tickets on social media or a third-party site rather than through the university
- Price is inflated well beyond face value with no refund policy
- Seller requests payment via peer-to-peer apps with no buyer protection
- 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
- ✓Only obtain graduation tickets through your university's official ticketing system or registrar's office.
- ✓If you need extra tickets, check your university's official waitlist or exchange program first.
- ✓Report fake ticket sellers to the social media platform and your university's administration.
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.
- BBB reported a spike in graduation-related scams each May and June, with fake ticket sales being the most common complaint from families during commencement season.
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.
- ✓Only obtain graduation tickets through your university's official ticketing system or registrar's office.
- ✓If you need extra tickets, check your university's official waitlist or exchange program first.
- ✓Report fake ticket sellers to the social media platform and your university's administration.
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.
BBB reported a spike in graduation-related scams each May and June, with fake ticket sales being the most common complaint from families during commencement season.
BBB Scam Alert 2024
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
College students, Parents
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Social media — Student-targeted scams
Why this group is vulnerable
College students are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number 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
- BBB reported a spike in graduation-related scams each May and June, with fake ticket sales being the most common complaint from families during commencement season.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Alert 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about graduation ceremony ticket scam
How does the graduation ceremony ticket scam work?+
As graduation approaches and ticket demand exceeds supply, scammers post fake ticket offers on Facebook groups, Reddit, and resale platforms. Families pay premium prices through Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App, which offer no buyer protection for goods not received. The tickets either never arrive, are duplicates that are rejected at the door, or are for the wrong ceremony date or venue.
What are the warning signs of graduation ceremony ticket scam?+
Seller is offering tickets on social media or a third-party site rather than through the university Price is inflated well beyond face value with no refund policy Seller requests payment via peer-to-peer apps with no buyer protection
What should I do if I encounter graduation ceremony ticket scam?+
Only obtain graduation tickets through your university's official ticketing system or registrar's office. If you need extra tickets, check your university's official waitlist or exchange program first. Report fake ticket sellers to the social media platform and your university's administration.
Who is most at risk for graduation ceremony ticket scam?+
This scam primarily targets College students, Parents. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom and typically appears on Social media.
Is graduation ceremony ticket scam on the rise?+
graduation ceremony ticket scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK. 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.