Stay Alert – Be on the Lookout for Ticket Scams

Ticket scams are most common when tickets sell out for popular concerts, plays, and sporting events. The scammers may be individuals or fake resale companies.

To steal your money, they typically use one of these strategies:

• Creating counterfeit tickets with forged barcodes and logos of real ticket companies
• Selling duplicates of a legitimate ticket and emailing it to several buyers
• Pretending to sell tickets online to steal your credit card information
• Accepting payment for a ticket that is never sent to you

Here's what to do to avoid becoming a victim of a ticket scam:

• Whenever possible, use the official ticket sales agent for the venue or visit the box office directly.
• Buy tickets from authorized brokers and third-party sellers, with verified contact information.
• Avoid tickets sold on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and other free online listings. Scammers are skilled at providing realistic tickets and fake receipts.
• Look for red flags in the ticket offer. If the offer has imperfect English or unusual phrases, the offer could be a scam. 
• Verify that the seller has real physical addresses and phone numbers. Scammers often post a fake address, PO Box, or no address on their websites.
• Check the actual web address of the resale ticket seller. Some scammers create phony websites that look like real ticket sellers' websites.
• Search online for negative reviews about the seller. Use the seller's name, email address, and phone number, along with the words "fraud," "scams," and "fake tickets."
• Verify the details printed on the ticket. Check the date and the time and make sure the section and seat numbers exist at the venue.
• Have the seller meet you in person in a public place for the ticket exchange.
• Ask the seller for proof they bought the tickets if you're buying from an individual.
• Use a credit card to pay third-party sellers. Your credit card offers protections should you need to dispute a charge.

You should never wire transfer money to pay for tickets or trust a seller who wants you to pay with a prepaid money card.