Police warn of fake Indy 500 tickets
SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — If you still need a ticket for the Indianapolis 500, be careful where you look.
Police warn your money could be taken and you could be left without a ticket.
With the race sold out, fans are now looking for other avenues to get them.
“I got duped,” admitted Tara Cahoon. “I got scammed. It’s a real kick in the teeth. You put your faith out there and hope humanity is good and decent.”
Earlier this week, Cahoon says she logged on to Craigslist and posted a wanted ad for Indy 500 tickets. She thought it would be a good way to celebrate her husband’s birthday.
“A gentleman contacted me and said his father had just passed away and he had four tickets ,” said Cahoon.
She says at first she agreed on two tickets for $300 but later agreed to buy four for $450.
“The face value is $109 so I thought he’s just covering the cost of shipping and taking face value. I said, ‘okay, deal,’” she said.
The deal was she would have to wire half the money upfront. She showed 24-Hour News 8 a receipt showing she did it, but days later, still no FedEx delivery.
She is now out $225 dollars.
That’s where reputable dealers say she went wrong
“Normally if it’s Craigslist like that and you’re not meeting somebody face-to-face, it’s probably a scam,” said Mike Paduto, the owner of Circle City Tickets.
He says you never know who you’re dealing with when working through Craigslist
“Anytime someone asks you to wire the money ahead of time and you don’t know who it is, that person could be in the Ukraine, they could be anywhere in the world and you don’t have recourse when you do it through Western Union,” said Paduto.
Tickets are still available via third parties.
And in Speedway scalping tickets is legal but sellers must get a peddler’s permit from the town. The permit must be visible at all times and buyers have the right to ask to see it. Town guidelines also indicate that they must work alone. The permits cost $250 a piece.
“It’s a strict policy that we have in town to sell tickets outside IMS. You have to have a permit,” said Lt. Trent Theobald of Speedway Police. “We warn that if you have friends who back out last minute, you’re out there trying to sell it you could be in violation and be cited for that. You can sell them to a licensed broker or scalper but be very careful out there because it could be a costly fine.”
As for Cahoon, she and her husband will now be watching from home.
“I’m gun shy. I don’t want to go through this again and lose more money on it,” said Cahoon.
UPDATE: Cahoon sent a message to 24 Hour News 8 saying she was able to get tickets from Myrna Metzger, the former Milk Lady.
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