Ontario police warn about sneaky concert scams and here's what to look out for

Ontario police are warning concertgoers to be extra cautious when buying concert tickets — especially in the lead-up to Taylor Swift's highly-anticipated six-show stop at the Rogers Centre beginning on Thursday — and here's what you need to look out for. 

The Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau reminded music lovers on Tuesday to be wary of scammers when purchasing tickets to see their favourite artists live. Authorities say scams typically involve a false sense of urgency to purchase discounted concert tickets. 

In other instances, scammers will take over someone's social media account, pretend to be them, and falsely announce to their friends and followers that they have Eras Tour tickets for sale. 

Peel Police are urging those looking for last-minute deals to always use a verified resale ticket website, never answer random texts or social media advertising posts for ticket resale, and to meet in person to conduct transactions at a "buy and sell zone" in one of the force's parking lots. 

The news release comes just a few weeks after the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre revealed that it had received over 100 reports of scams involving fraudulent Taylor Swift concert tickets. 

Toronto police have also warned fans to be cautious in the days leading up to shows, especially in cases where scammers are "selling" heavily discounted tickets. 

Imagine finding the perfect tickets for that concert or game you've been dying to attend—only to realize they’re fake. Scammers are out there, using social media to trick fans into buying counterfeit tickets. Always buy from trusted sources and protect your plans! pic.twitter.com/ZvPm97hhF0

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) November 13, 2024

"Scammers take advantage of ticket sales for popular events like playoff games, concerts, and festivals that are in high demand," Dave Coffey, a detective in the financial crimes unit of Toronto Police Services said on Wednesday. 

"Most people who sell fake tickets typically use social media platforms to attract unsuspecting buyers. Inside social media groups, scammers will contact potential buyers directly, because it appears they're legitimate. Scammers will ask for deposits or more money to complete the ticket transfer, and sometimes scammers will advertise a lower ticket price to attract more buyers." 

Coffey said fans can protect themselves by only purchasing tickets from the authorized seller for the event or at the venue box office, meeting sellers in person in a public place to exchange money, avoiding ticket purchases from social media sites, and being wary of tickets sold at lower-than-expected prices. 

blogTO has reached out to Ticketmaster and StubHub to learn how each platform is working to protect fans from potential scammers in the lead-up to the Eras Tour run in Toronto. 

Victims of fraud are encouraged to contact their local police service immediately.