Just moments before the 50th annual event is supposed to start, a man was caught cheating people out of their hard-earned money in a scam that took advantage of their dreams.
According to The Tennessean, Metro Police have arrested an out-of-area man who was caught in an amateur sting operation while he attempted to sell even more fake tickets to tonight’s 50th Anniversary CMA Awards show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Detectives say that Andrew Ariva of Brewster, New York was arrested after they caught him hocking counterfeit tickets featuring seats that didn’t even exist.
One victim of Ariva’s alleged scam met up with him yesterday and coughed up $600 for a pair of tickets, but once he discovered that they were forged, he contacted police who worked with him on a sting in which the victim requested more tickets. Upon arrival to the meeting place, Ariva discovered that it was not an interested buyer meeting him, but instead, the local police dept.
His bond has been set at $20,000 and he is charged with one count of felony criminal simulation and one count of misdemeanor theft. He had been seeking buyers using Craigslist.
Metro Police recommend exercising extreme caution when purchasing tickets to high-profile events – especially if they do not personally know the seller.