Man arrested for selling counterfeit World Series tickets outside Nationals Park, police say

WASHINGTON - Authorities arrested a man they say sold counterfeit World Series tickets before Friday’s game at Nationals Park.

Officers say 54- year-old Ondre Nelson, of Huntington, West Virginia was arrested and charged with first degree fraud. They say Nelson sold counterfeit tickets to a person around 6:30 p.m. on October 25 in the unit block of N Street in the Southeast about a block from the ballpark.

A general view of the 2019 World Series logo on the field during the World Series Workout Day at Nationals Park on Thursday, October 24, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Police shared the following tips to avoid getting scammed:

- Only buy verified tickets from sites like Ticketmaster as opposed to third party sites.

- The venue is more likely to help you with any issues if it’s a verified ticket.

- Buy tickets using a credit card so you can dispute the charges if needed.

- You have a better shot of scoring better seats if you purchase tickets at the box office when they first go on sale.

- You can also try to purchase tickets online while standing in line at the box office to improve your chances.

- Always check with the box office for any tickets still available the day of a concert or event, even if people say it’s sold out.

Anyone who encounters a scam is asked to call police at (202) 727-4159.