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Ticket scams: spot the fake seller before you pay

Editorially reviewed · Last updated August 4, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. A ticket offer is not real because the logo looks right. Verify the seller, delivery method, and buyer protection through the official event channel before you pay.

Exhibit · Email

Two VIP tickets held — payment needed in 20 minutes
F
FanPass Event Desk
tickets@fanpass-event[.]net
8:03 PM
Your two front-row tickets are reserved. Pay $480 by Zelle now and we'll send the PDF screenshots immediately — there are other buyers waiting, so we cannot hold them past 8:23 PM: fanpass-event[.]net/checkout/2048
Release tickets
Illustrative email · not an original screenshot

Other versions you might get: A fake event website copied from the venue, a social-media account selling seats it does not have, a listing that sends the same seat to multiple buyers, or a ticket package that includes travel and a room but never produces the ticket. The FTC has warned that some sites are run by con artists with no tickets at all, while other buyers discover their “tickets” are counterfeit at the gate.

What to do right now

  1. Stop and open the official event page yourself. The FTC says to check with the event organizer, promoter, or venue to learn how and when tickets are sold. Do not use the seller's link, logo, or phone number as proof.
  2. Check the seller's protection and delivery rules. Before buying from a third-party reseller, confirm how the tickets arrive, when they arrive, and whether the seller offers replacement tickets or a refund if something goes wrong.
  3. Treat a screenshot as a warning, not a ticket. For events that use app delivery and validation, the FTC says someone selling a paper ticket or screenshot is likely a scammer. Check the specific event's rules because delivery methods differ.
  4. Don't let scarcity make the decision. A deadline, a second buyer, or a sold-out event is not a reason to skip verification. If the seller cannot show a path through the official event channel, walk away.
  5. If you already paid, act now. Contact the bank, card issuer, or payment app and ask whether the fraudulent payment can be reversed, then report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Keep the messages, payment record, seller details, and listing URL.

Reduce the risk of another scam

A counterfeit ticket is discovered late — often when you are already at the event — so the useful check happens before payment. If money already moved, the FTC's advice is to contact the company that handled the payment, ask for a reversal, and report the fraud with the records you kept.

● Public service · free steps first

Take the free protection steps first

A suspicious message does not tell us how someone found your details. If you shared personal information, start with the official recovery guidance. You can also freeze your credit for free.

Decide what protection you need

Start with the free controls above. Compare what a paid service would add only after deciding which problem remains.

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No purchase needed. How we use evidence.

Frequently asked

How can I tell if a ticket seller is real?
Start with the event organizer, promoter, venue, artist, or team's official website and follow its ticket link. The FTC warns that scammers copy event logos and trademarks and run websites that look official. Check the resale platform's policies, delivery method, replacement promise, and refund rules before paying.
Is buying a ticket screenshot a scam?
For an event that delivers and validates tickets through its official app, yes — the FTC says someone selling a paper ticket or screenshot is likely a scammer. It is not a universal rule for every event, so check the event's own delivery rules through its official site. A screenshot is never proof by itself.
The seller says other buyers are waiting. Should I pay now?
No. Scarcity and urgency are exactly what stop you checking the event's official ticket channel. If the seller will not give you time to verify delivery, replacement, refund, and buyer-protection rules, walk away. A real ticket is not made real by a countdown.
Can a ticket website sell the same seat to more than one person?
It can happen in a ticket scam. The FTC has warned that fraudsters may advertise fake tickets or sell the same seat to multiple people, and that some sites have no tickets at all. Verify the seller and delivery path with the event organizer before paying.
I paid for fake tickets. What should I do?
Contact the company or bank that handled the payment and tell them it was fraudulent; the FTC says to ask for the transaction to be reversed. Report the seller at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and keep the listing, messages, receipt, seller account, phone number, and website as evidence.

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Sources

  1. 01How to make your World Cup experience scam free— Federal Trade Commission
  2. 02FTC warns World Cup soccer fans: watch out for ticket scams— Federal Trade Commission
  3. 03Cracking down on ticket bots that leave you out in the cold— Federal Trade Commission
  4. 04What To Do if You Were Scammed— Federal Trade Commission

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