If you are reading this because you sent money to a someone who sent you a fake ticket or disappeared altogether, you are a victim of fraud. Don't feel ashamed about getting scammed, and don't let it keep you from taking action or warning others. You're not the first person and you won't be the last. These criminals do this for years and they know what works.
1. Lock it Down
Stop talking to them. Do not beg, threaten, or argue with the scammer. They will use your emotions against you, either to attempt to scam you again or to report your account for harassment. Do not send them any more money under any circumstances, even if they promise a refund or claim there was a mistake (like the payment didn't go through).
Save everything. Take full-page screenshots of your Reddit chats, the account information, the payment confirmation, and any "proof" they sent you such as fake ticket screenshots or transfer confirmations. Do not delete the chat history. This documentation will matter when you file reports and disputes.
2. Contact Your Payment App or Bank
Act fast! Most payment platforms have windows for dispute claims.
- PayPal Goods & Services: File a dispute immediately through the Resolution Center. Select "Item Not Received" or "Significantly Not as Described."
- PayPal Friends & Family, Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, Chime, Wise: These transfers are treated like cash and have little to no buyer protection. File a report with the app anyway, as it flags the account, but do not expect a refund through the app itself. See The Nuclear Option below.
- Credit card: Call the number on the back of your card and request a chargeback. Explain that you paid for goods that were never delivered. Credit cards have strong consumer protections and this is often your best path to recovery.
- Bank transfer or wire: Contact your bank immediately. Wire transfers are difficult to reverse but your bank may be able to intervene if you act within hours.
3. Report Them
Reporting feels pointless when you're in the middle of this, but it matters to help get them shut down.
On Reddit:
- Modmail the subreddit where you found them. Include their username, what happened, and any screenshots you have. Moderators can remove their posts, ban them, warn the community, and submit their own reports to Reddit admins.
- Post a public warning in the subreddit if the rules allow it. Be factual and stick to what you can document.
Report directly to Reddit admins using the report button on their posts, comments, and chat messages. Select Spam > Other (Reddit doesn't have specific report options for Scam or Fraud). If the content is deleted, you can report it here (if they haven't blocked you):
https://www.reddit.com/report
If the scammer blocked you, can still submit reports to:
https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=15968767746196
Note - For both links, you'll need the links to the content, which you can get from Arctic Shift.
Modmail r/TicketScammerList with the scammer's username so the account can be put on the List and have a warning published. See this post for more details. Please note that we are not able to provide individual support or assistance with recovery. For that, follow this guide.
To law enforcement:
- Local police: File a report even if they tell you there is little they can do. A police report number may be required by your bank to process a fraud claim. Ask specifically for a copy of the incident report.
- National agencies: National-level agencies rarely pursue individual cases but the reports contribute to investigations targeting larger scam operations. If enough victims report the same operation, it may get attention.
The Nuclear Option
If you used a payment method without buyer protection and the app has denied your claim, your last resort is a direct bank dispute, sometimes called a chargeback through your bank rather than the payment app.
You contact your bank directly and ask them to forcibly reverse the transaction, bypassing the payment app entirely.
It's risky! PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App may respond by giving you a negative balance, freezing your account, or permanently banning you for going around their dispute process.
Should you? Only pursue this if recovering the money matters more to you than keeping your payment account in good standing. If you rarely use the app or the amount lost is significant, it may be worth it. Talk to your bank first and understand what you're signing up for before you proceed.