Authorities Warn Of Possible Sun Bowl Ticket Scam

By ABC-7 Reporter Veronique Masterson

El Paso, Texas – This year’s Brut Sun Bowl is probably the best matchup we’ve had in a while. But come Thursday, many fans could be left out in the cold.

Thursday’s big game is sold out. The only way to get a ticket is if you know someone with extras. Police say any other way, like the Internet is probably a bad deal waiting to happen.

ABC-7 has already received two phone call about a possible scam.

“There’s definitely a lot of bargains that you can sometimes find from individuals, but at the same time you have to use caution,” explains El Paso Police Department spokesman, Javier Sambrano.

Last week we introduced you to Rick Harbison who found a great deal on Craig’s List. He bought 10 Sun Bowl tickets for $250.

Sounds too good to be true and it just might be. The ticketsHarbison received were printed out by the seller through Ticketmaster’s TicketFast option which allows a ticket buyer to print his or her own ticket at their own convenience.

Harbison might not be the only sports fan who’s fallen victim to an alleged ticket scam. Sambrano tells ABC-7 if someone prints out a ticket, it’s valid.

Sambrano says, “As far as right now there might be something, but at the same time we won’t know until the day of the event.”

But, “If somebody printed out multiple copies of it and sold it to several different people well all those people, technically are going to be holding a valid ticket. However, once they get there, there’s obviously going to be room for one true actual seat.”

The person selling the copies could be charged with theft.

Sun Bowl officials say if a ticket doesn’t scan on game day, they’ll take the ticket to the box office to see where it came from and if it’s legit. If it is and the ticket holder has valid identification then that person gets the seat.

To guarantee a valid ticket officials say folks should use an authorized seller.

Sports fans we spoke with agree. “I just feel a bigger corporation would be a little more trusting,” says one man. “I’ve just had a lot of friends with bad histories and have ended up losing money so it’s just especially with these times, you can’t lose money,” another told us.

If you think you might have been scammed, call police immediately to file a report at 599-5500.