Toronto Ticket Scam Foiled

Toronto police have charged three people, foiling an ongoing ticket scam being run through popular websites.

A police spokesman said the three people are accused of selling fake tickets to concerts and hockey games.  According to police, one of the male suspects designed the fake tickets on a home computer and then sold them through classified ads on popular websites such as Kijiji.  Using fake names the accused then, arranged to meet the unsuspecting buyers.

This is yet another example of why you should never by tickets to any sporting event or concert  online unless it’s through a reputable site, through a reputable vendor.

Once the sales were arranged, the victims would then met a woman who said she  was a relative of the man and they then exchanged cash only for the printed bogus tickets.

All the meetings were said to have taken place near malls and other public areas.

Eventually, the victims figured out that the tickets weren’t the real thing and they contacted police.

Investigators believe there is a high likelihood of additional victims.

In response to the scam, police are urging people to be cautious when they are buying or selling any items over the Internet.

Meanwhile, three Toronto residents are facing fraud-related charges.

Police said 22-year-old Michael Heys-Walsh is charged with four counts each of fraud under $5,000 and uttering forged documents, and single counts of possession of proceeds of crime and possession of a controlled substance.

Jessica Diamone, 22, of Toronto is charged with two counts each of fraud under $5,000 and uttering forged documents.

The third suspect, 22-year-old Krystal Lafontaine-Garcia is charged with individual counts of fraud under $5,000, uttering a forged document and possession of proceeds of crime.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call police at 416-808-2200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477)