Toronto Waterfront Marathon organizers warn of online bib transfer scam

Susan Gapka says she tries to run the Toronto Waterfront Marathon's half marathon every year, but this year's event sold out before she could register.

"I was devastated," she told CBC Toronto this week. "It's a big, enormous goal of mine."

So she says she started looking on the Toronto Waterfront Marathon's Facebook group for someone willing to sell their bib. At first, it seemed like she might be in luck, but other commenters on the page had a warning.

"I was on the hunt for a bib somewhere and shocked and surprised that there were people trying to scam me," she said. "I had seen other posts on the group for runners:be careful of scammers."

WATCH | Marathon organizerstrying to spread the word about how to transfer bibs safely:

Toronto Waterfront Marathon latest event hit by online scammers

25 days ago

Duration 2:55

Many runners have been searching online for tickets for the upcoming Toronto Waterfront Marathon. As CBCs Talia Ricci reports, this has attracted countless scammers.

The Waterfront Marathon is still about two weeks away, but organizers say it sold out in August, and that's attracted scammers preying on hopeful runners like Gapka. The scams target runners who are inexperienced with the online system to transfer bibs, organizers say.

Victims of the scam say they were asked to send an e-transfer for bibs sold online, instead of going through the event's official channel, Race Roster, to make the exchange. They say they sent the money, but got nothing back.

Victims of fraud can submit a report online to the Toronto police website, media spokesperson Stephanie Miceli said in a statement. Police recommend exercising caution in online transactions, she said.

Organizers say bibs can be transferred safely

But for those still trying to get in the race, the event's organizeris trying to spread the word online about how to transfer bibs safely and legitimately.

"We keep emphasizing the only way to do it is through Race Roster,"said Charlotte Brookes, Canada Running Series' national event director.

By using the official channel,the buyer gives their money to be held by Race Roster until the seller puts their bib in the system. Once both are held, the buyer then claims the transferred registration through an emailed link and the seller is refunded.

Canada Running Series has only heard from a handful of people who've been victimized by the scam, Brookes says, but they're seeing more scammers trying to sell bibs in recent years as demand for the event grows.

Expert offers tips to avoid online transfer scams

There are certain smell tests buyers can use if they're worried about an online scam, says Vanessa Iafolla, principal at Anti-Fraud Intelligence Consulting.

"If someone is making you an offer that sounds great, take a minute, take two minutes, think about it, talk to someone, and do a little background research to see if it's real," she said.

"Don't do it if there's an alternative and more legitimate way of doing it. The Toronto Waterfront Marathon has a vested interest in making sure that people are able to transfer those bibs legitimately, so if someone's not using that system, you have to ask yourself why not."

Grapka did just that while she sifted through scams in search of a bib, which she says she ultimately found and bought through Race Roster. She says she was grateful when the transfer went through, and is happy to carry on her annual tradition with the chance to run forthe charity of her choice.

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is holding races on Oct. 19 and 20.