Ticket scalping starts in Brazil even without the tickets

RIO DE JANEIRO — Some people in Brazil are trying to scalp tickets for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics — even before the tickets are issued.

Rio de Janeiro police investigator Gilberto Ribeiro says 10 people have been detected using social media trying to sell 712 ticket vouchers — to be exchanged for tickets — at up to double their face value. Ribeiro says many of the tickets were for "high-profile" events.

It is illegal in Brazil to resell tickets at above face value.

Ribeiro says his police unit on consumer crime was tipped off by the organizing committee of the Rio Olympics, with the games opening in four months.

The investigator says the suspects have been identified and will be questioned. He says the penalty is up to two years in jail.

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