CBS2 Investigates: Police Hot On Trail Of Alleged Ticket Scammer
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- CBS2's Christine Sloan reported Wednesday night on an alleged scam artist who was accused of selling fake tickets to an event at the Barclays Center.
On Thursday, the NYPD was investigating – and had a surprise for the family who was affected.
After Matthew Dickson claimed he was sold four fake tickets to the WWE's SummerSlam 2015 at the Barclays Center via Craigslist, CBS2's Sloan set up a meeting with the alleged scammer, who identified himself as Damion Thompson.
"They said they're fake. They have the same serial number. Ticketmaster has no confirmation of the order number, Damion," Sloan told the man.
The NYPD is now hot on the man's trail, Sloan reported. They have used CBS2's video to identify him through facial recognition technology.
"CBS and you have been great and have really helped out, so I appreciate it," Dickson said.
Dickson, a father of four, said he lost more than $700 to the alleged scammer.
A day after CBS2's story aired, Sloan joined Dickson as he walked into the Midtown South Precinct so she could file the report.
Police did not have the suspect in custody late Thursday afternoon, but they did say another victim was duped – possibly by the same man.
Now with the evidence, they can pursue a case.
"I'm just glad something's going to get done, hopefully, and that hopefully, they can find him and get him off the streets," Dickson said.
Dickson has not told his boys, who idolize wrestlers, that they will not be going to SummerSlam.
But the full-time EMT, who also works two additional part-time jobs to support his kids, is getting more great news after CBS2's story. An anonymous donor has offered to treat his family to a wrestling event.
"That would be phenomenal; they would lose their minds. I don't even know. It would be great," Dickson said. "I mean, out of something bad, something good could happen."
The alleged fake tickets are made so well that it is hard to know the difference. But if one looks closely, they are thicker than real tickets.
Also, it is not really possible to bend the fake tickets at their perforation, while real tickets tear off easily.
Experts said real tickets also have a hologram on them.
When police find the seller, and if he is charged and convicted, he could face about a year in prison. As to where the fake tickets come from, police said they were not sure if they were coming from a centralized location.
Another victim told CBS2 his seller had the tickets delivered to him.
