The Ticket Resale Shell Game
You Can't Stop The Scammers. You Can Only Hope To Contain Them
I have spent all my love
Getting none in return
I bought a ticket to nowhere today-Ticket to Nowhere, Kenny Rodgers
Tough situation this past weekend at the Box Office: two separate parties arrived with fake tickets for two different shows. This wasn’t an attempt to sneak in or scam the system. Both groups had confirmation emails, apparently from StubHub or a lookalike site.
The issue? Our venue doesn’t yet support digital ticket resale or transfers—we’re still a couple of weeks out from launching that. We also don’t partner with any resale platforms. One red flag on the confirmation emails: the "Download Tickets" links didn’t work.
Fortunately, we had enough available seats to accommodate both parties, though not in the locations they originally paid for. One couple had even paid $200 above our highest listed ticket price.
You don’t hear the word scalper much anymore. It’s now called the resale market—and everyone’s in on it. Once the major ticketing companies realized they couldn’t beat the scalpers, they pivoted: developing or licensing software to claim their share of the profits. With digital ticket transfers now the norm, it’s easier than ever to buy and sell tickets online. But innovation isn’t just a tool for the well-intentioned—it serves the malicious, too.
Resale platforms like StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats are widely used and often come with guarantees of authenticity. However, it's important to remember that even legitimate platforms can be mimicked or compromised, leaving you with a fake ticket that looks real.
Below, I have included a few tips and resources to help with your due diligence in looking for authentic event tickets on the resale market. Remember, it’s not just the money that you lose. It’s money, time, and expectation.
TIPS
Buy tickets directly from the venue when possible
Never buy tickets for events that are not on sale yet without a verified pre-sale link.
If buying tickets from a 3rd Party site, contact the venue or primary ticket seller to see if they offer digital resale or transfer, or have any type of relationship with the 3rd Party
Read all of the terms and conditions, as well as “delivery options and guidelines” for your tickets on 3rd Party sites. Tickets should always be able to be transferred to your email or mobile wallet quickly.
Resources
Are my tickets real? - StubHub Website
Watch Out for These 4 Ticketmaster and StubHub Scams — and Know How To Avoid Them
Ticketing Truths - Ticketmaster Website
More than 200 fans turned away at Seattle concert due to fake tickets bought on StubHub, Vivid Seats
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