$140,000 Taylor Swift ticket scam leads to more charges in Ontario

Two people from Burlington face additional charges in an alleged operation where Taylor Swift concert tickets were sold but never delivered.

Halton Regional Police (HRPS) say they made the arrests on March 20 following a number of complaints received last fall when the music superstar performed shows in Toronto.

Police say at the time of the concerts, people purchased tickets through a third-party vendor who utilized the Facebook profile name of “Denise Blackhawk.”

“Investigators with the HRPS Financial Crimes Unit began an involved and intensive investigation as they continued to receive additional complaints from victims located inside and outside Halton Region both during and following the Toronto concert series.” Halton police said in a released statement. “As the investigation unfolded the Financial Crimes Unit received 75 complaints and confirmed 55 incidents of fraud connected to the third-party vendor which totalled approximately $140,000 in losses.”

A raid on a Burlington home yesterday uncovered computers, cellphones and documents connected to the case.

As a result of the investigation, the individuals below have been arrested and charged with the following offences:

Denise Tisor, 44, of Burlington:

• Fraud over $5000 – defraud the public
• Possession of property obtained by crime – over $5000
• Money laundering

David Blake, 56, of Burlington:

• Possession of property obtained by crime – over $5000
• Money laundering

Tisor and Blake have both been released on an undertaking with a future court date in Milton.

Police in Toronto previously charged the same people after 28 victims came forward who said they sent money but never received tickets.

In November Tisor was charged in Toronto with 32 counts of fraud under $5,000, fraud over $5,000, property obtained by crime under $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Then in January Blake was arrested by Toronto Police and charged with 19 counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

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