Two Kansas City friends wanted upgraded tickets to see The Chainsmokers during FIFA Fan Festival. Instead, they said a scammer took $600 and never delivered the passes.
Alex Mancuso and Debie Ruth searched online after upgraded FIFA Fan Festival experiences sold out, according to FOX4.
The free FIFA Fan Festival experience in Kansas City is open to the public, but upgraded passes offer guaranteed entry and premium access. That made sold-out upgrades harder to find when fans were trying to get closer to The Chainsmokers performance.
FOX4 reported that KC2026 later offered Mancuso and Ruth upgraded tickets after hearing what happened.
The Friends Paid $600 And Got No Tickets
Mancuso and Ruth were looking for someone selling upgraded passes after official options were no longer available.
FOX4 reported that the seller kept adding fees. In total, the friends paid $600, but the tickets never came.
Kansas City’s official FIFA Fan Festival page says general admission is free, but entry is first come, first served and subject to capacity limits. A digital pass is required for entry.
The upgraded options are different. KC2026 says Premium Garden and Legacy Lounge passes include guaranteed entry and extra perks, including dedicated access areas near the main stage.
KC2026 Offered Them The Experience They Tried To Buy
After FOX4 began working on the story, KC2026 offered Mancuso and Ruth upgraded tickets to the event, the station reported.
The Chainsmokers performance was part of the FIFA Fan Festival in Kansas City at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Visit KC listed the show for June 21, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Big Events Give Fake Sellers An Opening
Ticket scams often follow the same pattern around concerts, sports events, and festivals. A seller claims to have access after official tickets are gone, asks for quick payment, and disappears once the money is sent.
Premium access can make that pitch more convincing because the buyer is already expecting limited availability. The official event may be real. The artist may be real. The venue may be real. The fake part is the person claiming to have passes.
Fans looking for resale tickets should start with the official event site or a verified ticket platform. If a seller keeps adding fees, refuses protected payment, pushes direct payment through a personal account, or cannot complete an official transfer, the safer move is to stop before sending money.
Mancuso and Ruth still got to see the show after KC2026 stepped in. Most ticket-scam victims do not get that kind of ending.