Medium riskOnline Shopping

Ticket Website Scam

In this scam, a professional-looking ticket website advertises sold-out or discounted event tickets, takes your payment, then sends fake tickets, nothing at all, or duplicates that fail at the gate.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Fake store (event tickets)
Main red flag
A ticket site offering sold-out events cheaply, pushing payment by risky methods.
What to do first
Buy only from official box offices or authorised resale platforms.

What to know first

In this scam, a professional-looking ticket website advertises sold-out or discounted event tickets, takes your payment, then sends fake tickets, nothing at all, or duplicates that fail at the gate.

Online shopping scams use fake stores, unbelievable deals, and counterfeit or never-delivered goods to take your money and card details. Fake sites often surface through ads and social media and pressure you with limited-time offers.

The core pattern to watch for is clear: A ticket site offering sold-out events cheaply, pushing payment by risky methods. Buy only from official box offices or authorised resale platforms.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Concert Ticket Scam and the Fake Online Store Scam. For the wider picture, browse the Online Shopping Scams guides or run the message through our scam checker.

Scam statistics

Top category
online shopping is one of the most-reported fraud categories to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that started on social media in 2023, where many fake shops advertise
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Tell-tale red flags

  • Tickets to sold-out events offered easily and cheaply
  • Payment requested by bank transfer or gift card
  • A brand-new site with no genuine reviews
  • Pressure from countdowns and 'limited stock'
  • A web address that mimics an official seller

Staying safe

  • Buy from official box offices or authorised resale platforms
  • Check the seller and read independent reviews
  • Pay with a method that offers buyer protection
  • Verify ticket transfer policies for the event

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Sold-out show? We have tickets! Limited stock, buy now before they're gone. Pay by bank transfer for instant e-tickets.'

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.

What to notice: A ticket site offering sold-out events cheaply, pushing payment by risky methods.

Steps if you already acted

  • If tickets do not arrive or fail at the gate, dispute the charge
  • Keep the order, site, and any tickets as evidence
  • Report the fake site to the platform and venue
  • Warn others with an honest review where possible

Common mistakes

  • Do not pay by transfer or gift card for tickets
  • Do not trust sold-out tickets sold cheaply
  • Do not let countdown pressure rush you

Scams like this one

Medium risk Marketplace

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.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
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
High risk Online Shopping

Fake Flight Booking Scam

Fake flight booking scams use lookalike travel sites or fake 'agents' to advertise unusually cheap flights. They take payment by bank transfer or card for a ticket that is never issued or is quietly cancelled, and often follow up with a fake 'your flight is cancelled, call to rebook' message designed to harvest card and passport details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

How do I buy event tickets safely?
Use official box offices or authorised resale platforms, pay by a protected method, and be wary of cheap tickets to sold-out events.
The site looked professional. Does that help?
Scam sites can look polished and mimic official sellers. Verify the seller independently and check reviews before paying.
My tickets never came or were rejected. What now?
Dispute the charge with your payment provider, keep your evidence, and report the site to the venue and platform.
Is a private seller safer than a website?
Both carry risk. Prefer official or authorised channels; if buying resale, use platforms with buyer protection and transfer guarantees.

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.