Scammers await Taylor Swift ticket seekers. Here’s how to spot them

The countdown is on to what’s sure to be madness around the rush to buy Taylor Swift ‘Eras’ tour Indianapolis concert tickets.

Swift last week announced the addition of multiple-day stops in 2024 in Indianapolis, along with New Orleans and Miami, as part of the second leg of the record-breaking tour.

Taylor Swift in Indianapolis: ‘Do we even have a chance?’ Fans have fingers crossed for tickets

Hoosier fans hyperventilated at the prospect of being able to see Swift and her massive production in their backyard.

And resellers, scalpers and scammers went into action.

Taylor Swift incoming: Everything we know so far about the “Eras” tour coming to Indianapolis

Sites are already advertising and selling tickets for thousands of dollars each, even though the actual ticket for the Indy shows — Nov. 1-3, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium — don’t go on sale until 11 a.m. Aug. 11.

StubHub has tickets listed for the Nov. 1 show for more than $1,800 each but lists others — mostly in the 200-level and above sections — at more than $3,600 — as of Tuesday. SeatGeek is offering $15,000 tickets for that night.

The resellers are engaging in speculative ticketing, selling tickets they don’t possess with the hope of acquiring them when tickets go on sale. The practice can leave the fans doing business with them disappointed in cases where the resellers are unable to procure the tickets or later find it unprofitable to complete the transaction and cancel the order.

It’s among the reseller practices and scams that ticket sales service Ticketmaster, which also allows reselling on its platform, is warning fans as they gear up to score seats on shows on the extended tour.

StubHub has said it will honor all early ticket sales either with comparable seats or a refund along with additional compensation should a deal fall through. Company spokesperson Jessica Flinn said they only have issues with about .02% of its transactions.

Still, Finn is advising fans to hold off buying tickets on its platform for the time being.

“If you’re buying right now, you’re buying it at probably twice the average price of what the tickets will ultimately be going for,” Finn said.

SeatGeek has not responded to IndyStar.

How to spot scam Taylor Swift ticket sellers

Ticket seekers also should be aware of scammers setting up fake websites and social media posts claiming to be local residents looking to resell tickets; and encouraging fans to buy tickets by paying through Zelle, Venmo or other peer-to-peer digital payment apps, according to the Better Business Bureau. Sometimes they fail to come through with the tickets, leaving fans out of luck.

The organization advises those looking to buy Taylor Swift tickets to:

• Never purchase tickets before the tour has gone on sale, as speculative ticketing is a rampant practice.
• Always buy tickets from official ticketing sites to ensure tickets are authentic and secure. This includes double-checking the URL before making a purchase. Even if you can no longer get tickets directly from the venue or Ticketmaster, look to reputable ticket brokers before doing business with a ticket scalper or a random stranger on social media.
• Avoid or exercise extreme caution when buying tickets on unofficial sites, via social media, or from people you found online. But if you do purchase on third-party sites or unofficial platforms, do not use unprotected payments or give your credit card information over the phone, and be sure to review your selection carefully and make sure the ticket matches the venue information, including mobile or printed ticket options. 
• Use good judgment with advertisements. Some ads are scams, whether after a general internet search or in your social media feed. Be careful about clicking through and offering up personal information.
• Watch out for too-good-to-be-true deals. If someone claims to be selling tickets to a sold-out concert just before the date or at an amazing price, think twice. Scammers love to prey on fans of any artist or sporting event by claiming to have impossible-to-get-tickets for them.
• If you think you know the seller, double-check. Scammers may hack your contacts’ accounts and pretend to be a friend or acquaintance who’s selling tickets. Before sending money, contact your friend directly to make sure the deal is real.
• Use your credit card. They generally offer extra protection in case you find out the tickets were a sham. You may not get your money back if you pay with your debit card, a cash transfer app, or cash.
• Use good judgment with advertisements. Some ads are scams, whether after a general internet search or in your social media feed. Be careful about clicking through and offering up personal information.

Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour will come to Lucas Oil Stadium from Nov. 1-3, 2024. For ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com or taylorswift.com.

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter:@cherylvjackson.