5 On Your Side alert: Canes ticket Facebook group changes name following ticket scam allegations

A Facebook group connected to an alleged Stanley Cup ticket scam has changed its name after 5 On Your Side began asking questions.

Earlier this week, 5 On Your Side spoke with Greensboro resident Rebecca Cornwell, who said she lost $1,000 while attempting to purchase Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Final tickets through a Facebook group that promoted ticket sales among fans.

Cornwell told WRAL she was connected with a group administrator who claimed to be acting as a middleman between buyers and sellers. After sending payment through Zelle, Cornwell said the tickets never arrived. Following that report, the Facebook group had undergone a significant rebrand.

The group previously operated under the name "Carolina Hurricanes Verified Ticket Exchange." It is now called "Canes Verified Tickets" and features a different profile image.

However, a 5 On Your Side review of the group indicates it is the same page.

The group has the same membership count, the same posts and the same content history that existed before the name change. Only the name and profile image appear to have been altered.

The timing of the change has raised additional questions as 5 On Your Side's investigation continues.

It is not unusual for Facebook groups to change names. However, scammers sometimes rebrand pages and groups after receiving negative attention, making it harder for users to connect complaints to a particular online community.

At this point, there is no evidence that the name change itself violates Facebook policies. However, 5 On Your Side is pressing Meta, Facebook's parent company, for answers about the group and how the platform handles allegations of fraud.

Among the questions 5 On Your Side asked Meta:

• Is the company aware of complaints involving this group?
• Has the group or its administrators been reported for scam activity?
• Is Meta investigating any accounts associated with the group?
• Does changing a group's name affect Meta's ability to track complaints and enforcement history
• Has Meta taken any action against the group or its administrators?

As of publication, Meta has not responded to those questions.

Meanwhile, Cornwell hopes her experience serves as a warning to other fans eager to secure last-minute tickets.