Sports · Running & Athletics · 15 hrs ago
Runners face scams and rule violations when buying race bibs
Runners who miss out on sold-out races are increasingly looking for entries through social media and online marketplaces.
Some sellers are genuine, but others take money and disappear.
Montreal runner Leila Mekki Berrada lost $80 to a scammer while trying to enter the 2024 Montreal Marathon, and her bank stopped a second payment.
Race organizers in Montreal and Toronto have also heard from runners who say they were defrauded.
Rules differ by event: Toronto’s Waterfront Marathon and Montreal’s 2026 marathon allow transfers through their official Race Roster process, while Vancouver and Chicago prohibit them.
Even a real seller cannot safely transfer a bib if the race does not allow it, and unauthorized use can lead to disqualification or a ban.
Runners should check their event’s rules and complete any transfer through the organizer’s approved process; Toronto Waterfront says buyers should not send money directly to the original participant.
Runners seeking entries to sold-out races are increasingly using social media and online marketplaces, where some offers are scams.
Montreal runner Leila Mekki Berrada lost $80 to a scammer while trying to buy a 2024 Beneva Montreal Marathon entry.
Race organizers have reported suspected bib-related fraud, while some events allow transfers only through official systems.
Other races prohibit bib transfers and warn that violations can lead to disqualification or bans.
Organizers urge runners to check event rules and use approved transfer processes.
- Who
- Runners buying or selling race entries, and race organizers.
- What
- Bib resales can expose buyers to scams and rule violations.
- When
- The article describes incidents in 2024 and 2025 and policies for 2026 races.
- Where
- Online marketplaces and social media, including in Montreal and Toronto.
- Why
- Popular races sell out, while injury, illness, work or travel changes can leave runners unable to attend.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
organizers had 20 to 25 people who claimed they’d been scammed ahead of race weekend
hearing of six bib-related frauds at his event that May
The Canadian Press reported Leila Mekki Berrada’s experience trying to buy an entry to the sold-out 2024 Beneva Montreal Marathon.
Montreal race organizers had 20 to 25 people who claimed they had been scammed.
Toronto Marathon race director Jay Glassman reported hearing of six bib-related frauds at his event.
Montreal’s marathon allowed online transfers through Race Roster for a fee.
Montreal’s marathon charged a different fee for transfers completed at the expo.
- Leila Mekki Berrada
- Lost $80 to a scammer; her bank blocked a second $50 transaction.
- Montreal race reports
- 20 to 25 people said they had been scammed ahead of race weekend.
- Toronto Marathon reports
- Six bib-related frauds were reported at the event in May.
- Toronto Waterfront Marathon
- 9,500 participants allowed in the 42.2K distance.
- Montreal 2026 online transfer
- $18 plus service fees and taxes before Oct. 8.
- Montreal 2026 expo transfer
- $30 beginning Oct. 8.
Sources
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