Police lay additional charges as investigation continues into fraudulent ticket sales
Police have made another arrest and laid additional charges in connection with an alleged Taylor Swift ticket scam that defrauded fans out of tens of thousands of dollars. The scam reportedly involved fraudulent tickets for one of Swift’s six sold-out shows at Toronto’s Rogers Centre this past November.
The fraudulent tickets were advertised on Facebook Marketplace starting in August 2023, when the concerts first went on sale. Victims agreed to purchase the tickets and sent full payments, believing their tickets would be delivered closer to the concert dates.
However, police say that when the 28 victims attempted to access their tickets, they found they were nonexistent. When they requested refunds, they were allegedly told by the accused that the money was gone.
Police had previously charged 44-year-old Burlington resident Denise Tisor in connection with the scam, accusing her of defrauding victims of nearly $70,000. On Wednesday, Tisor faced additional charges, including:
- Eight counts of fraud under $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
Authorities also charged 56-year-old David Lloyd Blake, also of Burlington, with:
- 19 counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Both sets of charges have yet to be tested in court.
Victims allege that Tisor, under the pseudonym “Denise Blackhawk,” used Facebook Marketplace to advertise the fake tickets. Some buyers reportedly trusted Tisor because they had successfully purchased tickets from her in the past or knew her personally.
The scam is believed to have collected nearly $300,000 from over 400 tickets.
Toronto police, working alongside Halton Regional Police, believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone who purchased fraudulent tickets to file a police report online.
In a previous interview with CTV News Toronto, Tisor claimed she was also a victim of the scam and had filed a police report herself. However, investigators say their findings suggest otherwise.
As the investigation unfolds, police continue to focus on identifying other potential victims and piecing together the full scope of the alleged scheme. Swift’s sold-out shows in Toronto drew massive demand, and authorities are urging fans to remain vigilant when purchasing tickets online.