Police Release Image Of Man Suspected Of Selling Fake Broncos Tickets
DENVER (CBS4) - Denver police are asking for the public's help identifying a man they believe is involved with selling fake Broncos tickets.
Authorities issued a crime alert with a picture of the suspect allegedly behind the sale of fraudulent tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos game on Nov. 15. Police said the tickets were offered for sale on the Internet, but did not clarify which website.
Denver Police received at least eight reports from people who were scammed with fake tickets for the Chiefs vs. Broncos game. One of those victims, according to police, found what she thought was a "sweet deal" on Craigslist -- $700 for four tickets. When the victim got to the game they discovered their tickets were not real. Another victim paid $1,300 for six tickets, also advertised on Craigslist, that he later learned were fraudulent.
CBS4 found several fans who had problems with fake tickets earlier this season when the Broncos hosted the Green Bay Packers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. It was one of the highest priced games on the secondary market and scammers got away with thousands of dollars. One fan said the tickets he purchased for $450 apiece were perforated and even had the Ticketmaster logo.
"They didn't scan," Derek Jarr, a Packers fan in Denver from Arizona, told CBS4's Jeff Todd on Nov. 1. "A friend of mine bought some tickets from a scalper and they ended up being void when we got to the gate."
Kirk Dyer is the Executive Director of Ticket Operations and Administration for the Denver Broncos and says they hear about ticket scams every week.
"The bigger the game, the more issues we have," Dyer told CBS4.
With the highly-anticipated game against the New England Patriots this weekend, it's likely ticket scammers are looking to make big bucks. Dyer said fans should avoid buying tickets on websites like Craigslist.
"If it seems too good to be true, it probably is," Dyer said of Broncos ticket deals often found on Craigslist. "Instead, fans should trust sites like the NFL Ticket Exchange or buying directly through the Broncos."
The Denver Police Department is also reminding football fans to use caution when buying tickets for the Patriots vs. Broncos game, or any ticketed event. On their Facebook page, police provided this tip: "If you are looking to buy tickets to major sporting events, don't use Craigslist. Instead, buy from official ticket exchanges. If you choose to use unofficial sites and the tickets are fake, there is a very small chance that your funds will be recovered."
Additional Information From The Denver Police Department
Remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000. Call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message, or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com; or use the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers mobile app which is immediately available as a free download on smartphones.
Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now reports for CBS4 News at 10 and is always open to story ideas. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.
