UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State University Police continues to investigate multiple scams related to Penn State football tickets.
Police are investigating a scam that originated on Facebook involving tickets for the Penn State vs. Ohio State game on Sept. 29.
Specifically, police are investigating three separate cases in which the perpetrator offered tickets for sale through Facebook. Once the sale was agreed upon, the victims deposited payment into the suspect’s Venmo account. Immediately following the transaction, the suspect deleted his or her account. Police believe the same suspect is responsible for all three incidents.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim of this crime, or a similar crime, should contact University Police at University Park at 814-863-1111.
Separately, University Police arrested Jose Lopez, 26, of Bronx, New York, for selling fraudulent tickets to fans for the Ohio State game. Police charged Lopez with theft by deception. Lopez later pleaded guilty in Centre County Common Pleas Court.
Additionally, police caution ticket holders against selling tickets to unauthorized individuals as authorities have received multiple reports of individuals using counterfeit cash to complete the sales.
Penn State encourages fans to only purchase tickets through Penn State authorized sources. The Penn State Athletic Ticket Office and Ticketmaster are the only authorized sources for tickets to Nittany Lion athletic home events. Fans purchasing tickets from unauthorized sources (including StubHub, Vivid Seats, Craigslist, EBay, and ticket brokers) assume the risk that tickets purchased are counterfeit or the barcodes have been invalidated.
Anyone attempting to enter Beaver Stadium with a counterfeit or invalid barcode on their ticket will be denied entry.