Channel Nine journalist loses $1200 to tricky concert scam: 'I felt sick to the stomach'
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The world of online ticket sales can be a minefield, and even the most savvy among us can fall prey to scams.
Case in point, a Channel Nine journalist and presenter recently found herself $1200 out of pocket after falling for a fake ticket scam for Taylor Swift's highly anticipated The Eras Tour.
Deborah Knight was simply trying to secure the perfect gift for her daughter.
'A really good friend, who I’ve known all my life, contacted me and said, “Do you still want Taylor Swift tickets?”' Deborah recalled.
'It was my daughter’s eighth birthday, and getting my hands on these tickets would be the best present ever.'
'My friend put me in contact with her friend who had the tickets—or so I thought.'
The friend's cousin was reportedly selling tickets, and Knight jumped at the opportunity.
However, unbeknownst to both Knight and her friend, the friend's Facebook account had been hacked.
The 'cousin' selling the tickets was, in fact, a scammer.
Knight agreed to pay half the ticket cost upfront, with the rest to be paid upon receipt of the tickets.
The tickets she received looked 'unbelievably legitimate,' she said. But there was a crucial difference.
'The difference is a genuine Taylor Swift ticket in an Apple Wallet right now does not have that barcode,' Tech Expert Trevor Long explained.
By the time the scammer claimed the payment hadn't come through, it was too late.
Despite contacting her bank immediately, Knight was left $1200 short and without any Taylor Swift tickets.
'I realised I'd been scammed. I felt sick to the stomach, absolutely humiliated. I also felt embarrassed and ashamed,' Knight confessed.
'I was reluctant to speak publicly about this, but I think we’ve got to.'
Knight decided to speak out to help normalise the conversation around scams and reduce the stigma victims often feel.
'It happens to everyone, even Deb Knight—it's disgusting, what's happening, so something needs to be done,' she said.
The Eras Tour, which will see Swift perform three concerts in Melbourne from February 16 to 18, and four in Sydney from February 23 to 26, has been a hotbed for ticketing scams.
Victoria Police reported over 250 instances of ticketing scams for the tour since tickets went on sale in June last year.
Authorities urged fans to only purchase tickets from authorised sellers such as the Ticketek marketplace.
If you're considering buying tickets from friends on social media, it's advised to contact the friend independently of social media to verify the sale and ensure their account hasn't been compromised.
Have you, or anyone you know, ever been a victim of a ticket scam? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
Case in point, a Channel Nine journalist and presenter recently found herself $1200 out of pocket after falling for a fake ticket scam for Taylor Swift's highly anticipated The Eras Tour.
Deborah Knight was simply trying to secure the perfect gift for her daughter.
'A really good friend, who I’ve known all my life, contacted me and said, “Do you still want Taylor Swift tickets?”' Deborah recalled.
'It was my daughter’s eighth birthday, and getting my hands on these tickets would be the best present ever.'
'My friend put me in contact with her friend who had the tickets—or so I thought.'
Deborah Knight was scammed out of $1200 for a ticket to Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated The Eras Tour. Image source: Instagram/@deborah_knight.
The friend's cousin was reportedly selling tickets, and Knight jumped at the opportunity.
However, unbeknownst to both Knight and her friend, the friend's Facebook account had been hacked.
The 'cousin' selling the tickets was, in fact, a scammer.
Knight agreed to pay half the ticket cost upfront, with the rest to be paid upon receipt of the tickets.
The tickets she received looked 'unbelievably legitimate,' she said. But there was a crucial difference.
'The difference is a genuine Taylor Swift ticket in an Apple Wallet right now does not have that barcode,' Tech Expert Trevor Long explained.
By the time the scammer claimed the payment hadn't come through, it was too late.
Despite contacting her bank immediately, Knight was left $1200 short and without any Taylor Swift tickets.
'I realised I'd been scammed. I felt sick to the stomach, absolutely humiliated. I also felt embarrassed and ashamed,' Knight confessed.
'I was reluctant to speak publicly about this, but I think we’ve got to.'
Knight decided to speak out to help normalise the conversation around scams and reduce the stigma victims often feel.
'It happens to everyone, even Deb Knight—it's disgusting, what's happening, so something needs to be done,' she said.
The Eras Tour, which will see Swift perform three concerts in Melbourne from February 16 to 18, and four in Sydney from February 23 to 26, has been a hotbed for ticketing scams.
Victoria Police reported over 250 instances of ticketing scams for the tour since tickets went on sale in June last year.
Authorities urged fans to only purchase tickets from authorised sellers such as the Ticketek marketplace.
If you're considering buying tickets from friends on social media, it's advised to contact the friend independently of social media to verify the sale and ensure their account hasn't been compromised.
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