Art Schlichter Super Bowl Scam: Ex Ohio State QB's Ticket Scheme

As the price of tickets go up, so do the opportunities to profit from them illegally. The latest example: former Ohio State quarterback Art Schlichter, who allegedly participated in a ticket scam worth millions of dollars, CBS reports.

According to the investigation, Art Schlichter and Anita Barney, of Dublin, Ohio, whose husband co-founded Wendy's, accepted money for hundreds of thousands of dollars, supposedly in exchange for producing tickets to sporting events. However, they never produced the tickets. Events allegedly included in the scam were the Super Bowl and the Ohio State vs. Michigan game.

Barney could not be reached for comment, but her attorney said she herself was conned by Schlichter. "Anita is without question the victim of a massive crime," said her attorney.

Art Schlichter, who is a former All-American that has struggled with addictions and spent time behind bars, has not been arrested, but confirmed that he will be meeting with police, the  Columbus Dispatch reports.

If you're looking to avoid being scammed when buying tickets, a few simple precautions will go a long way.

• Don't send money to people without receiving the tickets in hand unless they are a secure website from a reliable second hand ticket company.
• Avoid buying the tickets on the street. If you must, either get the seller to walk with you to the gate or have someone stay with him while you verify the legitimacy of the tickets at the gate.
• Make sure that you are familiar with your local laws. In some states, in certain situations reselling tickets can be illegal.

Related Resources:

• Former Ohio State QB caught up in another gambling scheme (NBC Sports)
• Brett Favre Scandal Deepens with New Sexual Harassment Suit (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
• MTV Sued for Airing 'Super Bowl Shuffle' Without Permission (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)