Denise Tisor, 45, admitted in court on Wednesday to defrauding 107 victims across southern Ontario by selling them fake tickets to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour shows in Toronto. The total value of the fraudulent tickets exceeded $265,000 CAD (approximately $188,000 USD).
Tisor sold the tickets through social media platforms, operating under the name Denise Blackhawk. She told potential buyers that they would receive their tickets via email 48 to 72 hours before the concerts, which were scheduled for November 2024 at the Rogers Centre. However, the tickets never arrived.
According to prosecutor Thaddeus Ofiara, Tisor claimed she had access to the tickets through a corporate connection at the Rogers Centre. As the concert dates neared and victims questioned the absence of their tickets, Tisor informed them that her contact had become unreachable and deactivated their social media profiles and email addresses.
Investigators determined that Tisor and her partner, David Blake, 58, used a significant portion of the illicit funds for online gambling. Between July 1, 2023, and November 28, 2024, they placed bets totaling $139,144 CAD ($99,222 USD), resulting in a net loss of $56,335 CAD ($40,172 USD). Additionally, $42,495 CAD ($30,302 USD) from the ticket sales was deposited into Blake's bank account.
Blake pleaded guilty to possession of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000. Neither Tisor nor Blake have had their sentencing hearings scheduled yet.
When approached by a reporter outside the courthouse, Tisor declined to comment. Later, she posted an apology on Facebook, stating that a serious gambling addiction had consumed her life and acknowledging the pain she caused. Many of the victims who commented on her post expressed that while an apology is a start, they are seeking financial restitution for their losses.