“This is why we can’t have nice things,” as Taylor Swift once sang – and for a group of Greater Victoria fans in April 2024, those words hit a little too close to home.
That month, West Shore RCMP received at least four complaints about a Facebook Marketplace seller claiming to have Eras Tour tickets.
Buyers, including West Shore resident Kirstie, sent money but never received the tickets. Oak Bay Police also reported two similar cases, with victims across the region falling for the same scamming scheme, now nicknamed the “Swifty Swindler.”
Earlier this week, Kirstie got her money back thanks to what police called a thorough investigation by Cst. Sterpin, with support from the West Shore Restorative Justice team.
In total, the Swifty Swindler made off with thousands of dollars during last April's Facebook fraud.
For those left without their long-awaited Eras Tour seats, the Swifty Swindler was a hard reminder that even in the world of pop music magic, not every seller can be trusted.
