Fake N.Y. Giants Ticket Scam Busted in NYPD Sting

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has busted three alleged fraudsters in a fake Giants tickets scam. A stack of about 100 counterfeit New York Giants tickets were confiscated in the bust, the New York Daily News reports.

Police learned about this scam after a man who purchased bad tickets off Craigslist contacted them. A sting then ensued.

What happened, and how can you protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud?

Buyer's Suspicions Confirmed

The purchaser, an unidentified man, told the seller he thought the tickets looked suspect, a police source told the Daily News. The seller replied, "No, they're legit," and even let the buyer take a picture of him, which the purchaser wisely did.

After confirming with MetLife Stadium that the tickets (supposedly for Sunday's Giants-Cowboys game) were indeed fake, the buyer then went to the police. Investigators determined that the bar code numbers on the tickets were all different, while the codes themselves were the same.

Police promptly set up a sting operation at a building in Manhattan and arrested the seller. His two alleged accomplices led police on a dangerous car and foot chase -- a police sergeant was even struck by a van in the process. Eventually, all three alleged scammers were arrested.

Ticket Forgery Tips

This story should serve as a cautionary tale to other sports fans when purchasing tickets from third-party suppliers. Selling fake tickets is a form of forgery, which is a crime in all states.

What should you do to avoid being a victim of purchasing forged tickets? Here are some tips:

• Always use a credit card. Try to avoid using cash when purchasing tickets. By using a credit card, you may be able to dispute the charge and get a refund.
• Purchase tickets from licensed sellers only. While it may be more expensive, purchasing from a licensed or official source is the only way to guarantee that you have legitimate tickets that will gain you entrance to the game.
• Document the seller's information. Try to document as much of the seller's identifying information as you can -- much like the purchaser of the fake Giants tickets did in this case.

As for the alleged Giants ticket scammers, they're now facing charges that include larceny (i.e., theft) and possession of a forged instrument, the Daily News reports. One of the men is also being charged with assault on a police officer.

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Related Resources:

• 3 Arrested For Allegedly Selling Fake Giants Tickets (New York's WCBS-TV)
• Fake Super Bowl Tickets: Steelers, Packers Fans Beware (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
• 49ers Fan Falls for Ravens Fan's Super Bowl Ticket Scam (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
• Fake Disney Heir Busted Over Disneyland Ticket Scheme (FindLaw's Legally Weird)