The fake concert-ticket resale scam
A sold-out show, a stranger selling tickets at face value, and a request to e-Transfer first. The tickets never arrive - or were sold to a dozen people - and an accepted e-Transfer is almost impossible to get back.
What the scam looks like
The show sold out in minutes. You check Facebook Marketplace, a fan group, or the replies under an "ISO tickets" post, and someone has a pair to sell - face value, or close to it, because "I can't make it anymore." They seem normal, maybe even share a mutual friend or two. They'll send the tickets as soon as you e-Transfer the money.
You send it. Then the tickets never arrive, or a PDF shows up with a barcode that's already been scanned at the door - because the same "ticket" was sold to a dozen people. The seller goes quiet, and an Interac e-Transfer you've already accepted is almost impossible to claw back.
Summer is peak season for this one: concerts, festivals, the Jays, the one-night show everyone wanted. The scarcer the ticket, the less careful people are.
Red flags
- A direct e-Transfer to a stranger for a ticket, with no buyer protection of any kind.
- A seller who'll only hand over a screenshot or a PDF and won't use the official resale or transfer system.
- Pressure to decide right now - "someone else is asking," "I'm walking into the venue."
- A price that's suspiciously low, or a brand-new account with no history selling a hot ticket.
- Being nudged off-platform ("just message me on WhatsApp"), where there's no record and no recourse.
What to do
- Buy resale through the official channel - the venue, Ticketmaster, or a marketplace that guarantees entry. For most digital tickets the real handoff happens inside the official app, not as a forwarded PDF.
- Treat an e-Transfer like cash: once it's accepted, it's gone. Don't send one to someone you can't actually vouch for.
- Before paying, ask the seller to transfer through the official system - a genuine seller can; a scammer stalls or changes the subject.
- Sent a link to a "ticket site" you've never heard of? Run it through our link checker before you type in anything.
- If you've already paid, call your bank right away, then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501).
Learn more: Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji scams: how to stay safe