Tampa hoops fans are getting ready for the early rounds of the NCAA tournament later this month, and scammers are getting ready too. With out-of-town visitors and locals alike scrambling for seats, the Better Business Bureau is warning that fake listings and cloned seller pages could leave fans locked out of the arena and, worse, with their personal and financial information in the wrong hands.
BBB's Warning For Tampa Fans
Speaking to WTSP, Bryan Oglesby, director of public relations and outreach for BBB West Florida, said scammers are quick to pounce when demand spikes. "Anytime there's a hype in the marketplace, scammers will always use that as an opportunity to take advantage of consumers," he told the station.
Oglesby said the fraudsters are getting slicker, leaning on AI tools and phony social media ads to mimic legitimate sellers. The goal is simple and ugly: trick fans into sending money or disclosing sensitive information while thinking they just scored legit March Madness seats.
How Scammers Target Fans
The Better Business Bureau advises fans to stay on established ground. That means buying through verified resale platforms like Ticketmaster, SeatGeek or StubHub, or purchasing directly from the venue. If a seller insists on getting paid via Zelle, Venmo or Cash App, that is a major red flag.
BBB also stresses that paying with a credit card gives buyers important dispute protections if something goes wrong. Fans are urged to be cautious of private social media listings, look-alike or cloned websites and sketchy apps promising miracle last-minute seats. When demand is sky-high, the too-good-to-be-true deals usually are.
Where The Games Will Be
According to ESPN, Tampa is on the national schedule as a First- and Second-Round site for the tournament on March 20 and March 22 at Benchmark International Arena. The arena, long known as Amalie Arena, was rebranded to Benchmark International Arena in August 2025 following a naming-rights announcement from Vinik Sports Group and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Local officials are not waiting for tipoff to talk about scams. Pinellas County has launched "Don't Be Fooled" workshops to help residents recognize AI-enabled impersonation schemes, Bay News 9 reports.
If You Were Scammed
If you suspect you paid a scammer, WTSP advises contacting your bank or card issuer immediately and filing a police report. Victims should also submit details to the BBB Scam Tracker and report fraud to the FTC. The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024, available from the FTC, shows that imposter scams generated hundreds of thousands of reports nationwide last year and that Florida ranked at the top for reported fraud per capita.
Experts also say to hang on to every scrap of evidence, including screenshots, receipts and seller profiles. That paper trail can make it a lot easier for investigators and your card issuer to step in and try to fix what the scammers broke.
