A hacked Facebook account led to two people spending nearly $5,000 for bogus Taylor Swift concert tickets in Oak Bay last week.
Oak Bay police said the “Swifty Swindle” has been reported in several other police jurisdictions over the past weeks.
On June 11, police said, a person complained to police that they saw a post on Facebook saying one of their friends was selling four Taylor Swift tickets for $2,400 and purchased them through an e-transfer. The buyer then received “obviously fake tickets,” police said.
The friend informed the buyer shortly after the purchase that their Facebook account had been hacked and the fake ticket scam had been sent to their Facebook friends.
Later the same day, another person fell victim, buying four fake tickets for $500 each and agreeing to a $400 surcharge — all through e-transfers.
Police said the files are still being investigated and have been referred to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Swift, a 14-time Grammy winner, is in the midst of a worldwide tour that is breaking concert-attendance records. The tour has spanned the U.S., South America, Asia, Australia and Europe and will conclude in early December with three dates at Vancouver’s B.C. Place Stadium.
dkloster@timescolonist
