Online scammers making it a cruel summer for Taylor Swift fans

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is advising Taylor Swift fans to beware of ticket resale scams after severalSwiftiesin Ottawa recently found themselves with blank spaces in their bank accounts.

In August, Swift announced six live performances in Toronto in November 2024as part of her career-spanning Eras Tour.

Theapproximately 300,000 tickets to the shows Swift'sonly tour stops in Canada sold out quicklyand have since become ascarce commodity among fans.

On Friday, Ottawa policesaid theirfraud unit had received many complaints in recent weeks about fake ticket sales through Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji.

Ottawa police said residentsreportedly lost over $12,000 in just three daysto Taylor Swift-related frauds, with some losing "upwards of $2,000."

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Resale scams aren't always easy to detect, said Jeff Horncastle, acting client and communications outreach officer with the CAFC.

Fans should be wary of resale prices they'donly see in their wildest dreams, said Horncastle, who shared tips to avoid becoming a target in an interview with CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning.

Tickets going for half price or lower are likely an indication of a fraudulent sale, he said.

Ottawa Morning6:44Ottawa police report fake Taylor Swift ticket scams

Online fraudsters are scamming Ottawa Swifties out of tickets for the artists sold-out Eras Tour. Some complainants have lost more than $2,000 with OPS reporting total losses to be more than $12,000. A spokesperson for the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre shares his advice on how to steer clear of the scheme.

Scammers are more likely to pressure or threaten buyers if they don't send money quickly, Horncastle added.

"That should be your first red flag that something's wrong," he said. "Take your time."

Ticketmaster, the company responsible for the sale of all original ErasTour tickets, offers a few methods of secured transfer. Users can pass ownership safely through their app, while tickets are secured by a barcode that refreshesto avoid being stolen or copied.

If it's possible, Horncastle suggestedfans meet the seller and exchange the tickets in person.

He recommended avoiding making transactions through Interac e-transfer, as you and your money are likely never ever getting back together.

Ottawa policesaid anyone who believes they've been scammedonline should file a report or contact 211.

"Alot of these incidents rely on the courts to determine the process, including deciding what restitution is appropriate, which can often take years to resolve," said Const.Shaun Wahbeh, an investigator with the fraud unit, in the initial police release.

"This really is a buyer-beware situation, and residents need to be smart about how they shop online."

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