Indiana Hoosiers fans are living a dream many thought impossible. The undefeated squad is headed to Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship against Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. Tickets are moving fast, prices are soaring, and scammers are working overtime. Attorney General Todd Rokita wants every Hoosier to get into the game instead of getting taken.
“Scammers love this exact moment,” Rokita said Thursday. “They know our fans are emotional, proud, and willing to pay anything to be there for history. That’s when they strike.”
Why This Game Is a Perfect Target for Fraud
Indiana finished the regular season 15-0, the first Power Four team to go unbeaten and untied since Florida State in 2013. The Hoosiers demolished Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame on their way to Miami. Demand for tickets exploded overnight.
StubHub reported Thursday that the get-in price had climbed above $1,200, with club seats pushing $8,000. Face-value tickets through official channels sold out in minutes. That combination of limited supply and unlimited excitement creates exactly what criminals need.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center says ticket scams cost Americans more than $325 million in 2024 alone. During last year’s championship between Michigan and Washington, Indiana’s own Consumer Protection Division handled dozens of complaints from people who never received their seats.
Red Flags That Scream “Scam”
Rokita’s office laid out the most common tricks popping up right now across Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, X, Instagram, and even fake team-branded websites.
- Sellers who refuse to use official resale platforms like Ticketmaster or SeatGeek
- Anyone asking for payment through Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, gift cards, or crypto
- “Urgent” messages claiming tickets will be gone in minutes unless you pay right now
- Listings with prices hundreds of dollars below market value
- Links that take you to sites with slightly wrong URLs (ticketmastar.com, for example)
- Promises of last-minute digital delivery “once you’re at the gate”
One Fort Wayne woman lost $2,400 Wednesday after wiring money to someone who claimed to be a Purdue student with extra club seats. The tickets never existed.
How to Buy Tickets Safely This Weekend
Rokita says follow these steps and you’ll dramatically cut your risk:
Use only verified platforms. The official resale partners for the CFP are Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats. All offer buyer guarantees.
Pay with a credit card. You can dispute charges if tickets never arrive. Never use debit cards, payment apps, or wire transfers.
Double-check the URL. Make sure it starts with “https” and has no weird spellings.
Compare prices. Check multiple legitimate sites first. If someone is offering seats for half the going rate, walk away.
Buy from the source when possible. Indiana fans can still join the official ticket waitlist through IU Athletics or check the NCAA’s verified ticket exchange.
The Attorney General’s office also recommends taking a screenshot of the listing and seller’s profile in case you need evidence later.
Already Got Scammed? Do This Immediately
If money has already left your account:
- Contact your bank or credit card company right now to dispute the charge
- File a complaint at indianaconsumer.com or call 317-232-6330
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Alert the platform where you found the listing
Every report helps law enforcement track these criminals. Rokita’s team has already forwarded several cases to federal partners this week.
Indiana’s magical run has united the state like nothing since the 1987 basketball championship. Families are driving to Florida together. Watch parties are planned in every county. Don’t let a crook turn the greatest moment in Hoosier football history into a nightmare.
Get those tickets the right way. Protect your money. Then scream your lungs out Monday night as Indiana goes for its first national football title.
Go Hoosiers. Stay smart. See you in Miami.
What are you doing to get to the game? Share your plans below, and use #HoosierHistory if you’re posting on social media. Let’s keep the conversation going all the way to kickoff.
