Fraudsters target Taylor Swift fans in Ottawa
Posted Sep 1, 2023 02:30:58 PM.
Last Updated Sep 1, 2023 02:38:19 PM.
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is warning ‘Swifties’ in the capital about fraudsters claiming to have tickets to Taylor Swift’s Toronto shows after a number of people have lost thousands of dollars online.
The OPS Fraud Investigation Unit said they have received an increased number of reports of fake Taylor Swift ticket sales, with fraudsters targeting Taylor Swift fans through Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.
According to the OPS, some victims have lost upwards of 2,000. In all, scammers have taken more than $12,000 in the last three days from people from Ottawa looking for tickets.
Police urge people to use caution when buying online from an unknown seller.. Fraud Unit investigators said they’re seeing a recent trend where buyers place large deposits on unseen goods with unknown sellers, only to never receive the product.
“This really is a buyer-beware situation, and residents need to be smart about how they shop online.” said Cst. Shaun Wahbeh, with the OPS Fraud Unit.
If you have been defrauded, police ask you to file a report online at ottawapolice.ca/report.
