Charlotte, NC – With March madness upon us, many fans are looking for tickets to the games, here are some tips on how to avoid scams.
There are countless ways for consumers to find tickets and connect with online marketplaces and ticket sellers.
Last year, Better Business Bureau received over 300 reports on BBB Scam Tracker about ticket scams related to sporting events, concerts, theatre, and more.
BBB is warning consumers to be smart when searching for and purchasing tickets, to ensure they are purchasing from a trustworthy source.
Here are some tips, whether you are looking for tickets for a game or any other event:
- Purchase from the venue whenever possible.
- Consider your source. Know the difference between a legitimate ticket broker, a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller), and a scammer selling fraudulent tickets.
- Check out the seller/broker. Look them up on bbb.org to learn what other customers have experienced.
- Look up the seller on VerifiedTicketSource.com to confirm you are buying from an NATB-member resale company.
- Buy only from trusted vendors. Buy online only from vendors you know and trust. Look for the lock symbol in the web address to indicate a secure purchasing system. Don’t click through from emails or online ads; a common scam trick is to create a web address that is similar to a well-known company.
- Know the refund policy. You should only purchase tickets from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction. Sellers should disclose to the purchaser, prior to purchase, the location of the seats represented by the tickets, either
orally or by reference to a seating chart; and, if the tickets are not available for immediate access to the purchaser, disclose when the tickets will ship or be available for pick up. - Use payment methods that come with protection. Always use a credit card so you have some recourse if the tickets are not as promised. Debit cards, wire transfer or cash transactions are risky; if the tickets are fraudulent, you won’t be able to get your money back.
- Be wary of advertisements. When you search the web for online tickets, advertisements for cheap tickets will often appear. Use good judgment; some of these ads are going to be scams, especially if the prices are low.
- If you’re unsure, verify your tickets. Pay a visit to the arena where the event will be held. Present your ticket to “Will Call” and they can verify if your ticket is legitimate.
