Tampa police have arrested an Ohio man accused of selling fake Luke Bryan tickets via Craigslist. They have released this video in efforts to educate the public on how not to be scammed.
According to police, 28-year-old Geoffrey Minton (seen above) used the online service to place an ad for tickets to the Luke Bryan concert in Tampa. A victim saw the Craigslist ad and arranged to buy four tickets for $100 each from the suspect on September 26. Out of an abundance of caution, the victim told Minton to meet him at his job to conduct the sale.
The victim snapped a picture of the suspect’s driver’s license and wrote down his tag number before handing him $400 in cash for the tickets. Later that day, the victim learned that the tickets were counterfeit when he
tried to use them to enter the concert. He reported the crime to the Tampa Police Department and provided officers with the suspect’s photo and tag number.
During the investigation, police officers discovered that a second victim also purchased fake Luke Bryan tickets from Minton. The victim worked with police to arrange a meeting with the suspect to purchase more tickets to an upcoming concert.
Police officers arrested Minton at the CVS pharmacy, located at 702 South Dale Mabry Highway. They found eight tickets to the Jason Aldean concert in Tampa inside of the suspect’s car. Three additional victims have come forward to help with the police department’s investigation since Minton’s arrest on October 7. Minton is currently being held on a $20,000 bond at the Hillsborough County Jail.
Tampa Police officers believe Minton may have worked with a female accomplice to scam additional victims on Craigslist. Officers are working to determine if she knowingly participated in the fake ticket sales. The couple was last seen travelling in a gold Chevy Malibu with an Ohio plate.
Anyone with information about this second individual or who may have purchased counterfeit tickets from Minton is asked contact the Tampa Police Department. This latest Craigslist zombie video is the second video in a safety series that the Tampa Police Department launched for National Crime Prevention Month.
The first video also uses zombies to remind residents to lock their garage doors to prevent thefts.
The department will release a new crime prevention video on its YouTube channel every Sunday during October.
General Craig’s List Safety Tips
– Don’t go alone
– Use extra caution with high value items such as cell phones and electronics
– If it is too good to be true, it probably is
– Tell someone where you are going
– Meet at one of the three TPD district offices or headquarters. The lobbies are open to the public
– Ask a lot of questions about the item. If they don’t have info, it is a good indication that they product isn’t real.
– And most importantly – TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS