Los Angeles may not welcome the Olympic Games until 2028, but fans hoping to secure tickets — and avoid getting caught out by fraudsters — need to act before a looming cut-off.
People who want a chance to buy tickets for the LA28 Olympics must register for the official ticket draw by Wednesday, March 18, at 11:50pm. More than five million prospective buyers worldwide have already signed up, aiming to land seats for events across the Games.
The ballot for the first US-hosted Summer Olympics since 1996 opened in January. Registrations go into a random selection process ahead of the first ticket sales window, which is scheduled to run from April 9 to 19, allowing successful applicants to start purchasing tickets for events in Los Angeles.
Those chosen in the initial draw will be emailed between March 31 and April 7 with instructions and a designated time slot for buying. Successful registrants can purchase up to 12 tickets during this first release — but with demand expected to far outstrip supply, one travel expert has urged fans to stay alert.
With the registration deadline approaching, Jacob Wedderburn-Day, CEO of Stasher, said sports fans should make sure they register in time — and be prepared for a rise in ticket-related scams as excitement builds.
He said: “It may be over two years away, but there’s an important ticketing deadline fast approaching for the LA Olympics 2028 that sports fans need to be aware of.
“If you’re planning to attend the next summer Olympic games in Los Angeles, you need to register for the ticket draw by tomorrow to get access to the widest choice of events at the cheapest prices, as well as the chance to see the Opening and Closing ceremonies.
“The ticket draw will be random and those who are selected will be given a time slot to purchase tickets in April. It’s free to register for the draw, and every sport at the 2028 Olympic Games will have tickets available at $28, while a third of tickets for the event will be under $100.
While many will be focused on securing seats for top events, Wedderburn-Day stressed that high demand often creates ideal conditions for scammers to target eager buyers.
The travel expert warned: “Sports fans need to remain vigilant this week. Like with any other major event, scammers will try to take advantage of this lucrative opportunity to con people. This could be tricking you into handing over personal details via fake registration sites or parting with your money to secure tickets early (which are fakes).
“Any sports fan who wants to register for the LA28 ticket draw should do so only on the official site here. If you see anything suspicious, or have fallen victim to an Olympics ticketing scam, make sure you contact the Federal Trade Commission – the national reporting centre for fraud.
“By doing so, you’ll help the police crack down on the criminals exploiting fans and help prevent the same thing happening to others in the lead up to the Games.”
He added that with some people willing to pay inflated prices for the chance to attend, fraud attempts are all but guaranteed — and anyone who suspects they’ve been targeted should respond quickly.
He said: “If you’ve lost money or you think a fraudster has access to your bank account, contact your bank or payment service provider as fast as you can.
“They can protect your account and, in most cases, get your money back. Always contact them directly using a known email or phone number, such as the ones shown on their website or the back of your card or call 159.”