Stupid fans scammed on Craigslist receive Super Bowl tickets from Ticketmaster

Ah America, land of the free, home of the remarkably stupid. If you haven’t heard this story yet of Niners fans falling victim to a Craigslist scam, well, grab your dunce cap cause this is a doozy.

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A California couple bought Super Bowl tickets from a buyer on Craiglist and wired $5,900 to his bank account. A few days later they received a Fedex package containing, you guessed it, nothing of value. In fact the scammer went so far as mocking them with a Super Bowl promo picture and the words, “Enjoy the game!!!! Go Ravens!!! LOL.”

Yes, scammers are pond scum and this whole situation sucks. But these types of scams exist only because half-witted folks falls for them. Of course this is being turned into a feel good story because that’s what we do in this country. Ticketmaster, home of the ridiculous surcharge, has stepped in to get these “poor fans” to the game.

After this newspaper’s story on the couple was read around the country Tuesday, Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard called Hayward resident Sharon Osgood to offer four free tickets for her, her boyfriend and other family members who got scammed. Hubbard also arranged for Osgood and her partner to have breakfast with NFL legend Troy Aikman.

Before word of that gift got out, the 49ers front office called with its own free-ticket offer. In all, the family has five tickets to the game — and good seats, too.

“My heart literally was in my throat; it was fluttering — I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening.’ I can’t put into words how grateful I am,” Osgood, a 49-year-old utility worker, said between tears after getting the news.

This is not a feel good story dammit! Feel good stories involve kids with cancer and communities stepping up after natural disasters. This? This is PR nonsense. This is smoke-filled coffee house crap. This is taking pity on the moronic.

On top of that, did anybody vet this story? Did anybody closely examine this whole ruse? How do we know they didn’t set this whole thing up? If the Te’o story taught us anything it’s that we should take nothing at face value. Even fake dead girlfriends.

49ers, Ticketmaster give Super Bowl tickets to couple scammed over Craigslist [LBS]