If you are one of the lucky fans who managed to get tickets to the Super Bowl, congratulations. A thrilling experience awaits. However, if you are still looking for tickets and are tempted by offers on social media platforms, be careful. You may end up getting a fake ticket and be very disappointed.
Counterfeit tickets are a serious problem that affects many major events, especially the Super Bowl. According to members of the intelligence team, Management information company Nisosscammers are actively seeking out victims looking to get last-minute tickets to the Super Bowl, often taking advantage of their desperation and lack of tickets.
Nysos has been collecting data on counterfeit Super Bowl tickets in the lead up to this Sunday’s big game, and has uncovered some surprising findings.
NFL Football and Lombardi Trophy (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
What new tricks are scammers using to trick you into buying counterfeit Super Bowl tickets?
Fraud technique #1 — Use image editing software
One of the most common ways fraudsters create fake tickets is by using image editing software to generate documents that mimic legitimate tickets, such as receipts. They may also use stolen or forged barcodes or QR codes to make the tickets appear more authentic. Mr. Nisos has found several instances of such fake tickets being promoted on his social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Fugitive serial football ticket scammer with nationwide victims arrested in Georgia
Nisos has found several instances of such fake tickets being promoted on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. The one below was posted by X.
Fake Super Bowl ticket ads on social media (Nisos)
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Fraud Technique #2 — Leveraging Automation and AI
Another technique scammers use is leveraging automation and sometimes artificial intelligence to identify and target victims based on the language used in posts. For example, Nisos received responses from scammers within a minute after including typical buzzwords and hashtags used by people wanting to buy tickets, such as #SuperBowl, #SuperBowlTickets, and #LookingForTickets. These responses often include links to other platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Cash App, where scammers try to close the transaction.
What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
#superbowltickets (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
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Fraud tactic #3 — Use cross-platform to avoid detection
Scammers also use cross-platform operations to avoid detection and bans by social media platforms. They will identify and start communicating with you on one social media platform before asking you to switch to another. This is likely an attempt to prevent certain social media platforms from gaining full insight into fraudulent activity and banning accounts.
Nisos observed that scammers often use multiple accounts on different platforms to commit fraud, including Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, Telegram, Cash App, Venmo, and Zelle.
Scam tactic #4 — offering deep discounts
Finally, scammers may offer deep discounts for upcoming events, such as the Super Bowl, to entice you to buy now. They may claim that they just want to sell tickets “last minute” to justify deep and attractive discounts such as 50% off or more. The discussion below began after a Niso analyst posted Super Bowl tickets to the public and scammers engaged through her DMs.
You may also claim that you are unable to attend the event for personal or professional reasons, such as a family emergency or work commitments. Nisos found that scammers often use these excuses to pressure victims into making rash decisions or sending money without checking the ticket.
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How fake ticket scammers use compromised fake accounts to avoid detection
One of the challenges in identifying and tracking the fraudsters behind counterfeit ticket fraud is the methods they often use. Compromised social media accounts to carry out their operations. These accounts may belong to real people whose accounts were hacked or stolen by fraudsters, or to fake personas created by fraudsters using stolen or fabricated personal information. Nisos has identified multiple instances where the account username, display name, and name on the associated payment account were all attributed to different individuals.
Scammers may also take advantage of impersonation fraud To create or access bank accounts or payment applications used to receive money from victims. Stolen or forged identification documents, such as driver’s licenses, passports, and social security cards, may be used to open or verify these accounts. Nisos found that fraudsters often use different names and her IDs on different platforms, making it difficult to track the flow of funds and the fraudster’s true identity.
Read more: How cash payment app scams are scamming you out of your money
How can I protect myself from counterfeit ticket fraud?
The best way to protect yourself from counterfeit ticket scams is to be cautious and cautious when purchasing tickets online, especially through social media platforms. Here are seven tips to help you spot and avoid potential scams.
1. Beware of scammers using social engineering techniques. For example, they may recommend that you send money immediately because there are other potential buyers. They may also use emotional appeals such as pity, guilt, and urgency to manipulate you into making decisions. Nisos has found that scammers often use these tactics to force victims to pay before confirming the ticket.
2. Be wary of anyone presenting you with a receipt or proof of purchase. This does not guarantee that an individual owns the ticket and is something that can be easily forged. Nisos found several examples of fake receipts used by scammers to trick victims into believing they purchased tickets from legitimate sources such as Ticketmaster, StubHub, and SeatGeek.
3. Be careful when dealing with individuals who ask you to “tell me the price” or sell tickets below the price. This could be a sign that they are trying to lure you into a scam with an offer that is too good to be true. Nisos found that scammers frequently use this strategy to attract victims looking for cheap or affordable tickets.
Four. Be careful when dealing with people who claim to sell tickets on behalf of friends and family. This could be an excuse for fraudsters to use a compromised bank account with a different account holder than the social media account being used. Nisos has found that scammers often use this excuse to explain name discrepancies on accounts.
Five. Check your account’s recent history, some scammers may claim to be selling tickets to multiple high-profile events at once, such as sports games, music concerts, and conferences. This may indicate that they are running a massive scam and are not genuine sellers. Nisos found that scammers often post multiple ads for different events on the same or different platforms using the same or similar images and descriptions.
6. Please check your ownership with care Even if you buy something from a friend or a friend of a friend on social media. Nisos has identified multiple instances where family and friend accounts were compromised and used by fraudsters. The victim’s friends were unaware that their account had been hacked and assured them that the account user was a legitimate seller.
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7. The number one tip to avoid becoming a victim of counterfeit ticket purchases is: Please do not purchase tickets through social media platforms. This puts you at high risk of getting scammed by counterfeit tickets and losing your money and the chance to enjoy the Super Bowl.
Instead, buy tickets from official and trusted sources such as the NFL, Ticketmaster, StubHub, and SeatGeek. These platforms have security measures and guarantees that protect users from fraud and ensure that tickets are genuine and valid.
Super Bowl tickets are sold on official websites (stub hub)
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Cart important points
Counterfeit ticket fraud is a serious and pervasive problem that affects many fans who want to attend the Super Bowl. Fraudsters use a variety of tactics and techniques to create fake tickets, target and deceive victims, and evade detection and attribution. You can protect yourself from these scams by being cautious and cautious when purchasing tickets online, especially through social media platforms. The best way to avoid being scammed by counterfeit tickets is to purchase tickets from official and trusted sources such as the NFL, Ticketmaster, StubHub, and SeatGeek. By following these tips, you can enjoy the Super Bowl safely and securely without falling victim to scammers.
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