Question 1

What is the "Fake Online Event Ticket Reseller Scam" scam in Vancouver?

Accepted Answer

Travelers seeking tickets to Vancouver music festivals or events through secondary markets (Ticketmaster resale, Facebook marketplace) encounter sellers offering below-market prices. Payment is made via bank transfer or cryptocurrency, but the tickets are never transferred, or invalid QR codes are sent. The fake seller disappears. This is common weeks before major events like Jazz Festival or Pride. Only buy tickets directly from official venue websites or verified Ticketmaster resale partners. Never pay via bank transfer or cryptocurrency for digital tickets. Request that ticket transfers happen through the official platform's secure system before sending payment.

Question 2

What is the "Fake Wi-Fi Hotspot in Downtown Vancouver" scam in Vancouver?

Accepted Answer

In busy areas of downtown Vancouver including Canada Place, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and Robson Street shopping corridor, criminals set up rogue Wi-Fi networks named City_Free_WiFi or similar official-sounding SSIDs. Connecting exposes your device to credential harvesting and session hijacking, particularly targeting banking apps and email accounts. Victims typically notice fraudulent account activity hours or days later. Use your mobile carrier data plan or a personal hotspot when in public areas. If you must use free Wi-Fi, use a reputable VPN and avoid logging into banking or email accounts. Verify hotspot names with venue staff before connecting.

Online Scams in Vancouver

Fake Online Event Ticket Reseller Scam

Fake Wi-Fi Hotspot in Downtown Vancouver

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