12 Festival Ticket Frauds That Left Fans Broke and Locked Out

The StubHub Taylor Swift Eras Tour Hack

Tyrone Rose and Shamara Simmons got busted in New York City after hacking into StubHub’s system to steal URLs for 993 concert tickets, mostly Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shows.[1][2] They resold them for around $635,000 in profit between June 2022 and July 2023, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Both face charges of grand larceny, computer tampering, and conspiracy.

Matthew Neet’s College Football Ticket Swindle

Matthew Neet from Alpharetta, Georgia, faced federal wire fraud charges in December 2025 for scamming investors out of $940,000, including sales of fake college football tickets.[3] Federal prosecutors say he targeted real estate investors and ticket buyers alike. Neet was arraigned in Atlanta federal court on the charges.

Peter Hunter’s Long-Running Touting Fraud

Peter Hunter ran a ticket fraud operation from 2010 to 2017, snapping up bulk tickets for Lady Gaga concerts and Harry Potter plays by posing as multiple people with fake credit cards.[4] He got convicted of fraud in a landmark UK case, with his appeal dismissed in 2021, as reported by BBC News. Hunter and his husband David Smith bypassed limits on sites like Ticketmaster.

Maria Chenery-Woods, the ‘Ticket Queen’

Maria Chenery-Woods, known as the Ticket Queen, used family members’ details, even a dead relative’s, to fraudulently buy tickets for Lady Gaga’s 2017 tour and other events from 2012 to 2017.[4] She pleaded guilty to fraud and was convicted last year, per court records cited by BBC. Associates like her former brother-in-law Paul Douglas faced similar convictions.

Miles Hart’s Glastonbury Festival Scam

Miles Hart allegedly scammed promoters and friends out of £1 million by selling hundreds of fake luxury Glastonbury Festival tickets in 2024, vanishing afterward.[5] BBC investigations revealed ripped-off customers hunting him down, with up to 50 fraud probes ongoing by Metropolitan Police as of November 2025. Hart leveraged his connections for the elaborate con.

Toronto Taylor Swift Fake Ticket Bust

A woman in the Greater Toronto Area was arrested in November 2024 for scamming dozens of Taylor Swift fans out of nearly $70,000 with promises of Eras Tour tickets that never existed.[6] Toronto police laid multiple fraud charges under $5,000 and urged more victims to come forward. She targeted fans desperate for sold-out shows.

Burlington Pair’s Taylor Swift Fraud Charges

In January 2025, a Burlington, Ontario, woman faced additional charges and a man was arrested for selling fraudulent Taylor Swift concert tickets, building on prior scams.[7] Halton Region and Toronto police connected the cases, with victims losing tens of thousands. Authorities warned of more potential victims.

Chicago’s 11 Fake Taylor Swift Tickets Case

Eleven men were charged in June 2023 for trying to enter Taylor Swift’s Soldier Field concert with fake tickets or passes.[8] One repeat offender had a prior conviction for counterfeit Phil Collins tickets. Chicago law enforcement nabbed them at the gate.

California Man’s Texas A&M Ticket Scam

A California man got two years in prison in January 2024 from a Houston federal judge for scamming fans with fake Texas A&M football tickets.[9] The scheme led to his arrest and conviction after victims reported the fraud. It highlighted risks in high-demand sports tickets.

Singapore Taylor Swift Carousell Swindle

A repeat offender in Singapore was jailed in February 2025 for cheating 76 victims out of money via fake Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets sold on Carousell.[10] She also targeted Bruno Mars fans before. Police advised caution on resale platforms.

Nine in €10 Million Louvre Ticket Fraud

French authorities detained nine people in February 2026 over a suspected €10 million fraud scheme involving fake Louvre Museum tickets.[11] Investigations pointed to organized resale of bogus admissions. One suspect had prior convictions.

FTC Hits Illegal Ticket Resellers

The FTC took action in August 2025 against ticket resellers using bots and illegal tactics to bypass limits on concert and event tickets.[12] They targeted protections for fans on major platforms. The case aimed to curb widespread scalping fraud.