How do I report ticket fraud?
Steps to Report Ticket Fraud
Start by contacting the ticket seller or marketplace. If you bought through a major site like StubHub or Ticketmaster, they have fraud departments and may offer a refund or replacement.
Next, file a dispute with your payment method. Credit cards offer chargeback rights; PayPal Goods and Services has a resolution center. For debit cards, contact your bank.
Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general. If you lost money, file a police report with your local law enforcement.
- Contact the ticket seller or marketplace first.
- File a dispute with your credit card, bank, or PayPal.
- Report to the FTC and your state attorney general.
- File a police report if you lost money.
- Keep all receipts, messages, and screenshots.
What Information to Gather
Collect everything related to the transaction: the seller's name or username, listing details, payment receipts, and any communication. Screenshots of the original listing can help if it's taken down.
Note the date, time, and amount of the transaction, as well as the event name and venue. This information speeds up investigations and disputes.
If you bought from a scalper in person, try to recall any identifying details and report to venue security or police immediately.
Common mistakes
- Waiting too long to report—many payment disputes have strict deadlines, often 60 days for credit cards.
- Only reporting to the seller and not to payment providers or authorities, which limits your options.
- Not keeping evidence like screenshots or messages, which are crucial for disputes.
