However, many of these events can easily be ruined if you find out the tickets you purchased are fake.
Last year, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office listed ticket scams on their list of top scams during the summer months. They stated the average reported loss was about $200.
BBB offers these tips to help ensure you’re ticket purchase isn’t troublesome:
• Purchase from trusted places. Whenever possible, purchase tickets through the venue or a trusted source. Some sites offer ticket protection to protect you from potential scammers.
• Consider your source. Know the difference between a professional ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited reseller), a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller) and a scammer selling fraudulent tickets. Craigslist may be a real website, but your tickets may not be. Many sellers try to sell stolen or counterfeit tickets way above face value.
• Check to see if the seller/broker is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB). NATB members offer a 200 percent purchase guarantee on tickets.
• Verify your tickets. Pay a visit to the facility where the event will be held. Present your ticket to the box office and they can verify if your ticket is legitimate.
• 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 prices are low or dates are wrong.
• Use a protected payment method and understand all refund and guarantee policies. Use a credit card instead of a debit card or cash, this way you will have a chance at getting your money back if the tickets are not real. Never use a wire transfer or prepaid debit card. Only purchase tickets if details about the transaction are clear and ask for a copy of the invoice to ensure you get what you paid for.
• Remember, buyers and sellers should try to meet face-to-face, but make sure it’s in a public place.
For more information on ticket sellers/brokers, check out bbb.org or call (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301 for a list of BBB Accredited Businesses and Business Profiles on ones you’re considering.
If you believe you have encountered a fraudulent seller, report them to BBB ScamTracker and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioProtects.org or by calling (800) 282-0515
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