DFW Craigslist ticket scam for Cotton Bowl / AT&T Stadium events — buyer beware

With the big game this weekend, scam ticket listings are flooding Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

Common patterns:

• Tickets priced 30-50% below face value
• Seller claims they "can't go anymore" — sick, work conflict, etc.
• They send screenshots of tickets that look real but are duplicated
• Payment via Venmo/Zelle/CashApp (no buyer protection)
• At the gate, the barcode won't scan — someone else already used it

How to buy safely:

• StubHub, SeatGeek, and Ticketmaster resale have buyer guarantees
• If buying peer-to-peer, meet at the venue and walk in together
• Verify the barcode with the venue box office before paying
• Use PayPal Goods & Services (has buyer protection) not Venmo

What duplicate tickets look like:

• The screenshot is real — from a real ticket
• But the seller sold the same screenshot to 5+ people
• First person to scan it gets in. Everyone else is out their money.

Source: BBB DFW, AT&T Stadium box office warnings

I see this every single major event. Don't let excitement make you skip safety steps.

Is it just me?