Another tourist scam busted: Four arrested for selling worthless Disney World and Universal tickets

August 15, 7:20 PMOrlando Theme Parks ExaminerBarbara Nefer

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The latest in a series of busts aimed at stopping scams that prey on tourists near Disney World ended up with four ticket sellers being arrested. Each was allegedly selling worthless Disney World and Universal tickets at four locations on and around the Highway 192 tourist strip.

The tickets were being sold at:

• 4880 W. Highway 192
• 7421 W. Highway 192
• 8130 W. Highway 192
• 2979 Vineland Road (between 192 and Osceola Parkway)

All four locations are in Kissimmee, on a strip thick with gas stations, restaurants, souvenir shops, discount electronics outlets, miniature golf courses, timeshare recruitment booths...and discount ticket resellers.

The arrest underscores the importance of never buying theme park tickets from an unknown seller. The bust was initiated by complaints from tourists who were purchasing the tickets, then being turned away from the theme parks when they turned out to be worthless.

The Osceola Sheriff's Office Tourist Policing Unit teamed up with security personnel from Disney World and Universal to carry out an undercover operation. Based on what they discovered, they arrested the four suspects and seized $6000 in cash and over $130,000 in theme park tickets.

Tourists were also allegedly ripped off by a group of people running a phony credit counseling services and buying tickets for resale with the stolen number. Click here for the details. A couple was recently enticed by a trickster to trash their Orlando hotel room, doing thousands of dollars in damage. Click here to read about that. To read more of my articles, click here.

Photo: sxc,hu