Don’t get scammed buying L.A. Olympics tickets: What to watch for
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are still more than two years away. But scammers are already angling to capitalize on them.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a warning Monday reminding Californians to be on alert for scams related to the upcoming Olympics, particularly around bogus ticket resale sites.
“Californians are excited to welcome the world to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. Being a host city presents an opportunity for Californians to be part of this amazing and infrequent world wide event,” Bonta said in a written statement. “Today, I remind Californians to be cautious around Olympic ticket sales, purchase only from authorized vendors, and protect their personal information. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Ticket sales began earlier this month, with buyers selected randomly through a lottery system. Prospective attendees hoping to score some of the 1 million-plus $28 tickets touted by Olympic organizers were more likely to experience sticker shock, with prices in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars for the most in-demand events.
Nevertheless, LA28 — the organization running the L.A. Games — announced last week that more than 4 million tickets have already been sold. Half a million of those were $28 tickets that went to locals in California and Oklahoma, according to a press release. The second ticket drop is set to begin in August. The deadline to sign up for the lottery is July 22; those who signed up for the previous round and were not selected or who did not purchase their maximum of 12 tickets are automatically entered in the next round.
LA28 also announced that an official ticket resale program will launch in 2027. The only official resellers will be LA28’s Official Secondary Ticket Marketplace, AXS and Eventim, as well as its other verified resale platforms, including Ticketmaster and Sports Illustrated Tickets.
“If individuals see LA28 tickets on any site for resale prior to 2027, those tickets have not been verified by LA28,” the press release said.
Bonta’s warning recommended people only buy resale tickets from authorized vendors. Other tips include:
