Fake Taylor Swift tickets lead to two arrests

Published 2:27 pm Friday, March 13, 2009

LAKE STEVENS – Lake Stevens police worked with some fans of country singer Taylor Swift to set up a sting operation this week and bust a ticket counterfeiting operation that was advertising on Craigslist.

Police believe two Pierce County women, 21 and 20, were creating fake tickets to Swift’s sold-out May 15 concert at Key Arena in Seattle. The pair listed the bogus tickets on Craigslist, a popular Internet classified advertising site, said Lake Stevens Police Sgt. Julie Jamison.

People would arrange face-to-face meetings with the women, purchase the tickets in cash and later learn the tickets were fake, Jamison said. The fraudulent tickets are nearly identical to the real tickets.

A Lake Stevens resident called police after purchasing fake tickets. Police set up a meeting to buy more tickets on Wednesday and just before 2 p.m., the two women were arrested.

Police obtained search warrants and found evidence that more fake tickets were created and sold.

Detectives believe there are additional victims throughout the Puget Sound area. Anyone who may be a victim is asked to call 911. Local police will coordinate with Lake Stevens detectives.