Gullible suburban mother of four regularly duped in her half-century life. Exploring hoaxes and schemes as the ExSCAMiner, she attempts answering the nagging question: Should I have fallen for that? Got scam tips, email Karin at ScamExaminer@gmail.com.

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The Big Beijing Ticket Scam

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August 7, 11:45 PM

by Karin Malchow, Scam Examiner

AP/Greg Baker

Beijing ticket scalping may be small potatoes compared to the worldwide fraud allegedly conducted by Beijingticketing.com and other websites operated by XL&H, Ltd. linked to Terance Shephard, reportedly hiding in Barbados. At least scalpers actually sell tickets, unlike these sites bilking millions of dollars without providing any.

The Los Angeles Times reported many savvy buyers, including travel agents and e-commerce entrepreneurs, were fooled by the online version of the Big Store (traditionally an empty room rigged to look like professional offices). The sites prominently and illegally displayed Olympic symbols and appeared at the top of search engine results for ticket purchases.

Some were on to the scheme before the operation finally shut down in the last few weeks, after the U.S. Olympic Committee filed lawsuits July 22. One anonymous Charlotte, NC poster warned users on a Topix forum in February, also stating he contacted the Beijing Olympics Committee. In March, the UK Guardian detailed the fraudulent history of XL&H.

For several months media reports were few, some continuing to recommend the "official" sites. Duped buyers still purchased despite USOC warnings to use only authorized dealer CoSport/Jet Set Sport, long sold-out. Many victims hoped avoiding scalpers in Beijing, unsure of legal consequences.

Another reason the scam continued so long: Buyers prepaid through credit cards long before the promised ticket delivery. The scammers' next stall, giving them plenty of time collecting money before everyone became suspicious or disputed charges, was e-mailing buyers that they needed to pick up their tickets in Beijing,

Visa will reimburse credit card users (ultimately paid by the merchant's bank), but at this late date, many victims may end up taking their chances with ticket scalpers in Beijing after all.

Legal recourse: The USOC is compiling victim information e-mailed to GeneralCounsel@USC.org, building their case. A private law firm has also set up www.beijingticketscam.com.

Topics: Beijing Olympics , ticket scam

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Pay attention to the scanner

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