Fake Concert Ticket Resale Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers post counterfeit or nonexistent concert tickets on Facebook Marketplace and pressure buyers to pay outside the platform's protections before vanishing.
Part of: Fake Concert Ticket Resale Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Facebook Marketplace's local-seller framing makes it feel safer than a stranger's website, which is exactly why ticket scammers gravitate to it when a show sells out. A listing with a normal-looking profile photo and a plausible story ('can't go anymore, selling at face value') can look far more trustworthy than it is, especially when the buyer is desperate to get in before the show.
How this scam works on Facebook Marketplace
The scam usually starts with a listing for a sold-out or hard-to-get show, priced just below what resale sites charge so it looks like a genuine bargain from a local fan. As soon as a buyer messages, the seller pushes the conversation off Marketplace and into direct Messenger chat or another app, often claiming a technical glitch with the built-in checkout. They then ask for payment via bank transfer or a peer-to-peer app before any ticket, transfer link, or barcode is produced.
Because the transaction is framed as a local, in-person sale, buyers often skip the scrutiny they'd apply to an unknown website, and once the money moves, the 'seller' either goes silent, sends a screenshot of a ticket that was already used or resold to someone else, or produces a PDF with a barcode that fails at the door. Facebook's purchase protections only apply to items paid for through its own checkout and shipping flow, so any deal pushed off-platform loses that safety net entirely.
Common red flags
- Seller insists on moving the conversation to Messenger, WhatsApp, or text before sending any ticket details
- Seller refuses to use Facebook Marketplace's built-in checkout and only accepts bank transfer, Zelle, or cash app payment
- The profile is newly created, has no mutual friends, or has little to no posting history
- Ticket 'proof' is only a screenshot or photo rather than an official transfer link from the venue or ticketing platform
- Price is dramatically below resale value for a sold-out or high-demand event
- Seller creates urgency by claiming multiple other buyers are interested right now
How to protect yourself
- Only complete payment through Facebook Marketplace's official checkout, which carries purchase protection
- Insist on receiving the ticket through the venue's or ticketing platform's official transfer feature, not a screenshot
- Ask for a live video call showing the physical ticket or the transfer confirmation before paying
- Never send payment via bank transfer, Zelle, or a payment app to someone you have not verified in person
- Check the seller's profile age, mutual connections, and marketplace review history before engaging
- Meet in a public place for local exchanges and confirm the ticket scans or transfers successfully before handing over cash
How to report it
- Report the listing and the seller's profile directly through Facebook Marketplace's report tool
- File a complaint with the FTC or your country's equivalent consumer protection agency if money was sent
- Report the loss to the FBI's IC3 (ic3.gov) if the payment crossed state or national lines
- Contact your bank or payment app immediately to attempt a reversal or dispute
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy concert tickets on Facebook Marketplace?
It can be, but only if you stay inside Facebook's own checkout and shipping system, which provides purchase protection. Any deal that moves to Messenger and asks for bank transfer or cash app payment removes that protection entirely.
What if the seller sends a screenshot of the ticket before I pay?
A screenshot proves nothing — it can be copied from another listing or from a ticket already sold to someone else. Only an official transfer link or in-app transfer confirmation from the ticketing platform is real proof.