How to Spot Fake Ticket Fraud
September 24, 2024
Ticket scams are a big issue, especially for popular events where desperate fans might look to unofficial sellers for tickets. Sadly, scammers take advantage of this, offering fake tickets or selling the same ticket to multiple people.
What Is a Ticket Scam?
In a ticket scam, scammers sell fake or non-existent tickets to unsuspecting buyers. They might use fake websites, social media, or even show up in person outside events. These scammers often lure people in with deals that seem too good to be true, like discounted prices or claiming they have tickets for sold-out events. They might even use stolen photos and descriptions to make their tickets seem real. After paying, the victim either gets a fake ticket or nothing at all.
Example of a Ticket Scam
Ava really wants to see her favorite band, but the tickets are sold out. While searching online, she finds a website that looks just like the official ticket seller’s site. Excited, she buys the tickets right away. A few days later, she realizes her tickets never came. When she contacts the official ticket company, they tell her the site she used was fake and her purchase was never processed.
Tips to Protect Yourself
- Buy from official sources. Always buy tickets from official vendors like the venue’s box office, the event’s website, or trusted resellers.
- Watch out for deals that seem too good to be true. Be cautious of sellers offering tickets at prices much lower than normal or saying they have access to sold-out events.
- Avoid risky payment methods. Don’t use cash, wire transfers, or gift cards to pay for tickets. These methods are hard to trace, and you won’t get your money back if something goes wrong. Paying with a credit card offers more protection in the case of getting scammed.
- Check the seller’s reputation. Before you buy, research the seller. Look for reviews and feedback from other buyers. If you’re using a reseller, check if they’re legit through the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB) at https://www.natb.org/
- Inspect the tickets. If you receive physical tickets, check for signs of forgery like blurry printing or incorrect details. For digital tickets, make sure the information matches the event details.
If You’ve Been Scammed
- Contact us. If you think your account information has been stolen or you accidentally paid a scammer, let us know.
- Report the scam to the FTC. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ and your local police.
- Report the scam to your state attorney general. You can find their contact info at https://www.naag.org/
- Report the scam to the platform. If you bought tickets through a social media site or website, let the platform’s customer service or fraud department know. They might help you recover your money.
- Provide seller information. If you know anything about the scammer, share it with the authorities to help with their investigation.
- Dispute the charges. If you paid with a credit card, contact your credit card company to dispute the charges and ask for a refund. They will investigate and may reverse the payment.
Related Links: