Ahead of the long weekend, BC Parks will be keeping a watchful eye on campsite reservations looking for potential scalpers.
An individual was caught on Facebook Marketplace trying to sell two campsite reservations for Golden Ears Provincial Park’s north beach for Aug. 23 to 25, for $83 each.
The individual even listed that they “will be onsite to check” the buyers in.
A Reddit user saw the post and called the individual out saying they’ve reported them along with many other people who have tried to do the same thing.
“Some people never learn,” wrote the Reddit user.
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy says BC Parks staff are continuously monitoring for potential scams or campers attempting to resell sites.
“Only the named occupant(s) on a BC Parks reservation will be permitted to occupy the campsite indicated on the reservation,” says a ministry spokesperson.
Failure to present proof of identity upon arrival and during the stay may result in the reservation being cancelled in-park without a refund.
The spokesperson tells Glacier Media reselling is a very rare issue.
“The vast majority of campers follow the policies and processes to fairly secure camping,” says the spokesperson.
If a person is caught trying to resell their reservations, BC Parks will enforce a “fair and equal access to camping” by cancelling all, present and future, reservations linked to the individual.
"BC Parks reiterates that people should not be purchasing campsites from a person online claiming to have campsites for sale,” says the ministry.
Back in June, an individual listed their Alice Lake Provincial Park reservation in Squamish on Facebook Marketplace for $40.
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy staff investigated and confirmed the reselling of an Alice Lake reservation.
Another posting was made trying to resell a reservation at Porteau Cove Park, also in Squamish. It's unknown if both listings were made by the same person.
"BC Parks cancelled the involved parties' upcoming reservations,” a ministry spokesperson told Glacier Media at the time.
Camping reservations for BC Parks should only be made on camping.bcparks.ca or by an authorized travel trade agent, who will present a valid park use permit.
As of Aug. 26, there are no current listings on Facebook Marketplace for BC Parks, according to the ministry.
