DURHAM, N.C. — Hamilton's run at the Durham Performing Arts Center has led to scammers trying to trick eager fans out of their money.

  • Brenda Warren became a victim after she spent more than $1,200 on tickets for Friday night's performance.
  • Her tickets were screenshots of the original tickets.
  • Online City Tickets is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has faced hundreds of complaints through the BBB.

Brenda Warren became a victim after she spent more than $1,200 on tickets for Friday night's performance.

 

 

"We thought we did everything right," said Warren. "Even though we did everything right according to the DPAC, it was still wrong."

Warren bought tickets for her and her teenage daughter on Ticketmaster, and they were valid enough to let them into the performance. However, when two season ticket holders showed up for Warren's seats, DPAC staff told her the tickets she bought were screenshots of the original tickets.

"I don't have words to express my disappointment, let alone my daughter's disappointment," said Warren. "You have to understand, this is our first time doing something as a mother and daughter in six years out in public."

Warren is a Marine veteran who deals with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. She says the tickets were both a Veterans' Day gift and a surprise birthday gift for her daughter.

 

 

"I just wanted her to feel like a normal kid and enjoy something she wanted with her mom," she said. "Whoever did this took that from me."

Warren realized she bought the resale tickets on Ticketmaster from Online City Tickets, a third-party ticket seller. Online City Tickets is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has faced hundreds of complaints through the BBB, including some for incorrect tickets.

"If something big and exciting is coming to town, we can expect a scam to follow it," said Alyssa Gutierrez of the Better Business Bureau. "That was the definitely the case this go around."

Warren says DPAC sent her a letter in which they urged the reseller to give her a refund. She has not received one yet, but she says nothing will make up for what she experienced.

"I hope they get charged for fraud. I hope they get caught so they don't do it to anyone else," said Warren. "Think about it — most people that get scammed get stopped right at the gate, they don't even get in. We got into seats."