Scammers Target LA28 Olympic Ticket Buyers

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned Californians this week that scammers are already selling fake tickets tied to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. (oag.ca.gov) Bonta’s consumer alert said buyers should watch for counterfeit tickets, phishing messages, spoofed websites, and social-media offers that push people to pay outside official channels. (oag.ca.gov 1) (oag.ca.gov 2) The state warning landed after LA28’s first ticket phase drew heavy demand, with the official ticket site saying millions of tickets have already sold. LA28’s next Olympic ticket drop is scheduled for August 2026, with Paralympic ticket sales set for 2027. (tickets.la28.org) LA28 says buyers must register for its ticket draw, wait for an email time slot, and can buy up to 12 tickets through that process. That structure leaves room for scammers to exploit people who missed out or want specific sessions now. (la28.org) (tickets.la28.org) The sharpest warning is about resale. LA28 says that if people see resale listings before the official resale program launches next year, the organizers cannot verify that those tickets are real. (tickets.la28.org) Official hospitality packages are being sold now through LA28’s hospitality program, but the site says unauthorized ticket sales or resales outside official channels are not allowed. (hospitality.la28.org) (la28.org) Bonta told consumers to pay by credit card when possible, avoid wire transfers and gift cards, and be skeptical of sellers demanding immediate payment or promising guaranteed entry. His office said scam reports can be filed with the California Department of Justice. (oag.ca.gov 1) (oag.ca.gov 2) The state has issued similar alerts around high-demand events including the Super Bowl and Taylor Swift concerts, and the LA28 warning suggests Olympic ticket fraud is starting years before the opening ceremony. (oag.ca.gov) (oag.ca.gov) For buyers, the practical line is narrow: use LA28’s ticket draw, wait for the verified resale platform, and treat early “exclusive” offers as suspect. (tickets.la28.org) (tickets.la28.org)