Sporting Event Ticket Scam via Venmo
Ticket scammers ask buyers to pay by Venmo's 'friends and family' option specifically because it strips away the purchase protection that Venmo's goods-and-services option would provide.
Part of: Sporting Event Ticket Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Venmo is popular for splitting a bar tab or paying back a friend, and its casual, social feel makes it feel low-stakes to send money for a ticket too. But that casual design is a liability for buyers: Venmo offers a Purchase Protection program only when a payment is correctly tagged as 'goods and services,' and scammers know most buyers don't realize the difference.
When a seller specifically steers a buyer toward the friends-and-family option, or asks them to mark a goods purchase that way to 'avoid the fee,' they are removing the one safety net the platform actually offers.
How this scam works on Venmo
A seller lists tickets for an upcoming game and, once a buyer agrees to purchase, asks for payment via Venmo — often specifying 'friends and family, please, so I don't lose money to fees.' Some go further and coach the buyer to describe the payment as a 'gift' in the note field, which reinforces to Venmo's system that no protection applies.
After the payment is sent, the seller either never sends the ticket, sends a screenshot instead of a real transfer, or sends a ticket that turns out to already be used or duplicated. Because the payment was tagged as personal, Venmo's Purchase Protection does not apply, and the buyer is left arguing with a support team that has no record of a 'purchase' having taken place at all.
Common red flags
- Seller specifically asks for the 'friends and family' Venmo option instead of goods and services
- Request to note the payment as a 'gift' rather than a ticket purchase
- Seller frames the fee-avoidance request as doing the buyer a favor
- No willingness to send the ticket first or use a live transfer before payment
- Seller's Venmo profile is new or has no visible transaction history with others
- Reluctance to communicate through any channel that keeps a permanent record
How to protect yourself
- Always pay for a ticket through Venmo's goods-and-services option, even if it costs a small fee, so Purchase Protection applies
- Refuse any request to mark a ticket payment as a personal gift or as friends and family
- Ask the seller to complete an official ticket-platform transfer before you send any payment
- Screenshot the full listing, conversation, and payment confirmation as you go
- Verify the seller's Venmo profile has a genuine history rather than being newly created
- If in doubt, buy from the official team or league resale marketplace instead, even at a higher price
How to report it
- Report the transaction through the Venmo app's 'Report' option and contact Venmo support directly, noting whether it was tagged goods-and-services or friends-and-family
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US) or Action Fraud (UK) with transaction details
- Report the seller's profile on whichever platform (social media, marketplace, forum) you found the listing
- Contact the bank or card linked to your Venmo account to ask about a chargeback if the payment was funded by card
Frequently asked questions
Does Venmo Purchase Protection cover ticket purchases?
It can, but only if the payment is correctly categorized as goods and services and meets Venmo's eligibility criteria. Payments marked as friends and family are explicitly excluded from protection.
Why do scammers ask for friends and family specifically?
That option has no dispute process attached, moves money quickly, and avoids the transaction fee — all of which make it easier for a scammer to keep the money with no recourse for the buyer.
I already sent money as friends and family and got no ticket — can I get it back?
Recovery is unlikely through Venmo itself since Purchase Protection won't apply, but you should still report it to Venmo support, your bank, and a consumer-fraud agency in case other recovery avenues exist.