How to Avoid a Ticket Scam

After weeks of anticipation for a big event, don’t be left outside the gates holding costly fake tickets. Ticket scams have been on the rise in recent years for all kinds of events. Use these helpful tips to avoid concert and sports ticket scams.

Ticket scammers have a distinct advantage: Once a big event sells out, eager fans sometimes act out of emotion and wishful thinking. The thrill of scoring tickets can blind them to the warning signs of a ticket scam.

Red Flags for Fake Ticket Scams

Digital ticketing has simplified the process for venues, ticketing agencies, and fans. Unfortunately, it’s made ticket fraud easier too. Scammers can create fake digital tickets with basic graphic software, and there’s no way to authenticate the ticket without going to the venue.

Because you cannot tell a real digital ticket from a fraudulent one by sight, watch for these indicators of a ticket scam:

• Selling on social media or online marketplaces where scammers can easily create and delete fake profiles to conceal their identities.
• Requiring unusual payment methods, such as gift cards or wire transfer.
• Requiring payment by money-transfer app, or peer-to-peer (P2P) payment. These services are designed for people who know and trust each other, and few money-transfer apps offer any payment protection in the event of fraud. If the seller asks you to opt out of payment protection when it’s offered, that’s an additional warning sign.
• Deals that seem too good to be true almost certainly are. If it isn’t a friend who’s offering impossible-to-find tickets for a bargain price, then it’s a scammer.

Not all ticket fraud involves counterfeit tickets. Real tickets can be used for ticket scams too.

Ticket Scams with Real Tickets

1. In the hours before a big event, ticket scammers stand outside the venue to sell real tickets. So, what’s the scam? The unique code on each ticket has already been scanned for someone else’s admission! Once used, these authentic tickets are as useless as the fakes.
2. Paper tickets present their own risk. Scammers can easily print multiple copies of each ticket to sell to different people. One early-bird may gain admission to the venue; the other ticketholders will have lost their money to a real-ticket scam.

The most successful online ticket resellers know how to game search engines for visibility. Shrewd resellers can get search rankings above the official ticketing website – regardless of whether the event has sold out. Even if you’re willing to pay an inflated price for a real ticket, remember: Not every reseller with a professional-looking website is selling authentic tickets. If you’re not on the official ticketing website, you’re gambling with your money and risking a big disappointment.

How to Avoid Ticket Scams

Play it safe; always begin your online purchase at the official site of the venue or performer/team. That’s not quite as easy as it may sound.

The most sophisticated ticket scammers create lookalike websites with the same or similar graphics to the legitimate ticket seller. Even if it looks like the official site for a known ticketing company, double-check the web address. Ticket scammers use misspelled brand names and extra instances of “.com” to deceive you.

If the official site redirects you to purchase tickets through third-party platforms, carefully review the company’s guarantees and refund policies. Do research on reputable marketplaces, such as StubHub^™ or Ticketmaster^®, that can be relied on for valid tickets, delivered on time, with replacement and refund policies, if issues arise. Confirm these protections with their customer service team or written policies before you buy, and keep a record of your purchase.

If you receive a ticket that seems suspicious, contact the platform immediately to ask if it can be verified. This extra step could save you time, money, and stress.

When the big day arrives, you want to focus on enjoying the event and not worrying if your ticket will scan. Protect your money and your peace of mind by sticking with reputable ticket sites. Stay on defense, buy smart, and report anything suspicious. With these tips and a watchful eye, you can protect your money and – if you’re lucky enough to get a real ticket – enjoy the show!