MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — What was meant to be a memorable night at the College Football National Championship turned into a costly lesson for Tarece Glenn and her husband after they were allegedly scammed out of $5,000 by a fake ticket seller outside Hard Rock Stadium.
Glenn said the couple trusted a man who claimed to be selling authentic championship tickets moments before kickoff. After transferring the money digitally, they quickly realized something was wrong.
“I was devastated,” Glenn said. “I know better, but I wanted to get into the game. It was a mistake I’ll never forget.”
Glenn provided Local 10 News with photos of the men she says took their money. She recalled that after the transfer was completed, one suspect vanished while the other attempted to flee the scene.
“When he ran, I chased him,” Glenn said. “I’m almost 60, but I wasn’t letting him get away.”
Other fans from both Miami and Indiana stepped in to help detain the suspect until Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputies arrived. Authorities later arrested Eddie Hudson of New York and charged him with grand theft.
Investigators say the Glenns sent $5,000 through Venmo and were given counterfeit digital tickets in return. Hudson appeared in court Tuesday and was later released on a $2,500 bond. A judge ordered him to avoid the victims and stay away from Hard Rock Stadium.
Glenn said Venmo later informed her the funds could not be recovered. She now urges others to avoid using peer-to-peer payment apps when purchasing tickets from unofficial sellers.
“I’ll never use ticket scalpers again,” she said. “This experience changed everything.”
Despite the incident, the couple managed to enter the stadium after kickoff and witnessed Indiana’s Hoosiers claim the national championship. Glenn said they hope to recover their money and would consider dropping charges if restitution is made.
