Beware of scammers - mostly via text!

As will happen with any in-demand commodity, scammers are about. Please take caution to make sure you don’t end up getting scammed. While Festivarians are a trustworthy group, this forum is open to the public and anyone can swoop in and try to take advantage of our good nature.

Check out this information from PB on how to safely transfer tickets.

A few quick tips:

*Beware of people contacting you directly outside of this forum. If you post your number, anyone can see it. 3 of the most recent scam numbers texting people are 551-257-4324, 914- 363-0097 and 979-429-3744. Try calling the number - will they talk to you? Red flag if not. Is it a Google Voice number? Red flag.

*If it smells fishy, investigate. Look at their Festivarian profile - are they a new account or is it a few years old? Ask for screenshots or other proof of tickets. Did they text you directly? Get their forum username and PM to make sure it’s them, google the phone number, ask to chat on the phone, call Planet Bluegrass to confirm the person has tickets, ping me and I can look into it, etc. If you do send money, heed the advice below and use a refundable service.

*If you encounter a scammer, let us know! Flag their post and/or send us a PM detailing your interaction and we can help take action!

In addition, I’m borrowing the below guide from a different poster because it has some great advice:

How to Safely Buy/Sell/Trade Planet Bluegrass Tickets (Telluride, RockyGrass, etc.)

  1. NO RISK (HEAVILY RECOMMENDED): Seller (must be original purchaser) Calls Planet Bluegrass (800) 624-2422 and provides name of buyer, Planet Bluegrass refunds seller’s tickets. After complete, buyer calls Planet Bluegrass and provides name of seller. Planet Bluegrass directly resells tickets. This method has no risk of money or tickets being false/pulled back. For trades, Planet Bluegrass will review that both parties have proper tickets and will similarly facilitate the trade process. This process only works for sellers that originally purchased the tickets from Planet Bluegrass and is only available until a certain date.

  2. MORE RISK (SEE NOTES BELOW): Seller can contact See Tickets and request all tickets be moved to Will Call Pickup by emailing them at help@seetickets.us and including your order number. After complete, seller can transfer tickets individually to buyer’s email address for pickup. Original purchaser will always have access to later cancel this transfer (risk for buyer). This process can only happen once per ticket.

  3. VERY RISKY (NOT RECOMMENDED): Seller can change the delivery address for the tickets to be mailed on their transaction in See Tickets. This is only for moving a full transaction, no partials. Original purchaser will always have access to later change this address (risk for buyer). Wristbands will still be associated to the original buyer, so if anything happens with the wristbands (lost in mail, broken, stolen), the current holder will need a photo of the original purchaser’s ID.

  4. VERY RISKY (NOT RECOMMENDED): Seller can physically mail RFID wristbands to buyer after seller receives wristbands from Planet Bluegrass. Original purchaser could neglect to send wristbands (risk for buyer). I believe all scalping websites (Ticketmaster, StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, etc.) use this transfer method, but if you run into any issues Planet Bluegrass won’t be able to help you.

NOTE: For transfer options #2, #3 and #4 buyer will send seller money directly (some risk for both). Buyer should send payment via refundable method (Paypal Goods & Services, Venmo for Purchases, etc.) and pay a small fee (2%-3%) for security. Seller should thoroughly document completed transfer of tickets in case buyer later tries to contest payment for non-delivery. Planet Bluegrass has no hand in this process. Non-refundable methods (Paypal Friends & Family, Standard Venmo, Zelle, etc.) should only be used for known/trusted friends. Some scammers have been known to fake or reverse payment even on non-refundable methods, so seller should recognize associated risk and carefully review buyer.

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Thank you! I almost just sent $90 venmo to that 979 # but thought to check here first!

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Yes 979-429-3744 is trying to sell me a ticket. How do you know legitimate. Yes Google phone. He does answer but I think I will pass after seeing this. Thanks

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I’ve been contacted by text by 4 if these scammers now! Call the number - if it’s a Google call or asks to to state your name, it’s a scam.

I fell for one scammer with a 914 number but realized my mistake immediately and called contacted Venmo who were able to reverse the charge. Since then I have been texted by a 551 and a 979 number offering to sell me tickets but they are unable to talk to me, meet with me, or provide screen shots of the tickets.

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979 number is a scam he got us unfortunately checked here too late

Thanks! I just posted about selling a song school and FF ticket and need to understand the scams and best way to sell a legit ticket with being scammed.

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Selling typically carries less risk than buying.

Almost got scammed from the 979 but looked here first. Thank you!! This number said Venmo wasn’t working, asked for PayPal or Zelle, ignored my request to handle the transaction through PB. Beware!!

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So I’m selling wristbands and keep getting put off by the buyer about sending the money a little later. I’m failing to see the scam angle but this seems weird. Thoughts?

The only thing I can think of is they could delay so long it’d be hard to offload your tickets. Then they get you to agree to a lower price?

Yeah thought about that but seems so strange. Only other thing I can think of is maybe they are having second thoughts about the whole thing but don’t want to lose the chance at tickets maybe. I guess I’ll have to give a deadline soon and repost but that could also be weird. Arrrggghhh. I don’t see that I have much choice.

I think my sale is all good after all. Yeah!

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yep… 979 # just tried me too…

Thanks for posting this! I got so excited but just had a weird feeling and checked and sure enough it was the 551 number…

I was just taken for $100 by 551-257-4324 - wish I had looked here first.

Thanks for this list of numbers. Scammer tried to get me, but your post saved me!

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Just got another scam attempt from the 551-257-4324 number, FYI