As Grey Cup fever takes hold in Rider Nation, the RCMP are cautioning fans to beware of fraudulent game tickets.
"With the 101st Grey Cup approaching this weekend on Nov. 24, the RCMP's General Investigation Section in North Battleford and Integrated Organized Crime North in Saskatoon want to make the public aware of the fraudulent sale of Grey Cup tickets," cautions Cst. Tyler Buchanan in a press release.
The RCMP say this is one variation of a common scam when dealing with e-commerce, and buying and selling merchandise online.
Police say the scam involves the fraudster posting a listing through an online classified ad website. The post states the fraudster is selling tickets for the Grey Cup Championship game. The fraudster instructs the purchaser to send payment to the fraudster's bank account for the tickets via the purchaser's financial institution's online banking money transfer system, also known as an e-mail transfer.
Police say fraudsters also use commercial money wire transfer services to have victims send them money. Once the money has been sent for the tickets, the purchaser never hears from the seller again and does not receive any tickets. Another variation of the scam is that after the purchaser sends the money to the fraudster, counterfeit or fake tickets are received in return.
"The best way to purchase or sell your tickets is through the official Grey Cup Championship Game ticket site which can be found at www.101greycupfestival.ca/tickets," says Buchanan.
He also advises those with questions about purchasing Grey Cup Championship game tickets, to contact the Saskatchewan Roughrider ticket office at 1-888-474-3377.
