Medium riskMarketplace

Concert Ticket Scam

Scammers advertise resale tickets for sold-out or popular events on social media and marketplaces. After you pay, often by a method that is hard to reverse, you receive no valid ticket, or a duplicate that will not scan at the door.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Event ticket scam
Main red flag
A great deal on hard-to-get tickets from a stranger who wants payment by an irreversible method.
What to do first
Buy only through the official box office or an authorised resale platform, and avoid paying by methods with no buyer protection.

Understanding this scam

Scammers advertise resale tickets for sold-out or popular events on social media and marketplaces. After you pay, often by a method that is hard to reverse, you receive no valid ticket, or a duplicate that will not scan at the door.

Marketplace scams target both buyers and sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and classified listings. Fraudsters fake payments, send bogus "buyer protection" emails, push deals off-platform, or use overpayment tricks to make you ship goods or send money for nothing.

If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: A great deal on hard-to-get tickets from a stranger who wants payment by an irreversible method. Buy only through the official box office or an authorised resale platform, and avoid paying by methods with no buyer protection.

If your message looks slightly different, check the Fake Online Store Scam or the Social Media Shopping Ad Scam, both are close cousins of this pattern. Every related guide lives in the Marketplace Scams guides, and the scam checker can scan the text you received.

A typical example

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Selling 2 tickets to the sold-out show this weekend, can't make it anymore. $120 each, first to send payment by bank transfer gets them. Need to sell tonight!'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

The tell here: A great deal on hard-to-get tickets from a stranger who wants payment by an irreversible method.

What the data shows

$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that started on social media in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Top category
online shopping is consistently among the most-reported fraud types to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Warning signs

  • Tickets for a sold-out or in-demand event offered by a private seller
  • A request to pay by bank transfer, gift card, or other hard-to-reverse method
  • Pressure to pay quickly because others are 'interested'
  • The seller will only deal off-platform or by private message
  • A price that seems too good for an event that is otherwise hard to get into

Your safest response

  • Buy from the official box office or an authorised resale partner where possible
  • Use a payment method with buyer protection rather than bank transfer or gift cards
  • Be cautious of screenshots or photos of tickets, which can be copied and resold many times
  • Check the seller's history and reviews, and keep all communication on the platform

If you have already engaged

  • If you paid, contact your bank or card provider to ask about a chargeback or dispute
  • Report the seller and listing to the platform where you found it
  • Keep screenshots of the listing, messages, and payment as evidence
  • Report the scam to your national anti-fraud centre

What to avoid

  • Do not pay by bank transfer or gift card for tickets from a stranger
  • Do not rely on a photo or screenshot as proof a ticket is genuine
  • Do not let 'sell tonight' urgency push you into paying quickly

You might also see

High risk Online Shopping

Fake Online Store Scam

This scam sets up a convincing but fake store with very low prices, takes payment, and delivers nothing, a counterfeit, or a cheap substitute.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Online Shopping

Social Media Shopping Ad Scam

This scam uses eye-catching, heavily discounted product ads in social media feeds to lure you to fake or dishonest online stores that take your payment and deliver nothing, or send a cheap counterfeit instead.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace Buyer Email Scam

A fake buyer claims to have paid through an email service and asks you to confirm a fee or send the 'difference' before any real money arrives.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Questions people ask

Why are duplicate tickets a problem?
A scammer can sell the same screenshot or barcode to several people. Only the first to scan gets in, and the rest are turned away at the door.
Is a photo of the ticket enough proof?
No. Photos and screenshots are easy to copy and reuse, so they are not reliable proof that you are buying a valid, unique ticket.
What is the safest way to buy resale tickets?
Use the official box office or an authorised resale platform, and pay with a method that offers buyer protection in case something goes wrong.
Can I get my money back if the ticket is fake?
It depends on how you paid. Card and protected payment methods may allow a dispute, while bank transfers and gift cards are often very hard to recover.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.