Buyer Beware: How to Avoid Ticket Scams - FireLake Arena (2024)

You’ve found an upcoming event and you’re interested in buying tickets online (Awesome!). You search for tickets online and an ad comes up with tickets to the event. After putting in your information and picking your seats, you realize the tickets are OUTRAGEOUSLY priced. You think, “It’s more than I wanted to spend, but I really want to go.” You enter your credit card info, make your purchase and then… nothing. Now a scammer has your personal information, your credit card information and you may not even get your tickets.

Ticket selling scams happen when a scammer uses tickets as bait to steal your money.The scammer usually sells fake tickets or you pay for a ticket, but never receive it. They are common when tickets for popular concerts, plays, and sporting events sell out. Scammers, including individuals and fake resale companies, take advantage of the situation by:

Buyer Beware: How to Avoid Ticket Scams - FireLake Arena (2024)

FAQs

Buyer Beware: How to Avoid Ticket Scams - FireLake Arena? ›

Make sure the section and seat numbers on the tickets actually exist at the venue. Have the seller meet you in person in a public place for the ticket exchange

ticket exchange
Typically, ticket exchanges are used by individuals wanting to buy or resell tickets from other individuals rather than from the event the ticket is for.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ticket_exchange
. Ask the seller for proof that they bought the tickets, if you are buying from an individual. Use a credit card to pay third party sellers.

How do you protect yourself from ticket scams? ›

The only way to completely prevent ticket scams is to buy directly from a reputable source. This means buying tickets on Eventbrite, through other verified ticket platforms, or directly from the event website. Many scams happen when individuals (not companies/event organizers) sell tickets second-hand.

How do you tell if someone is scamming you for tickets? ›

Ask yourself if the deal seems realistic. Jane Parsons, consumer expert at Citizens Advice, says: 'If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Be suspicious if tickets are being sold for events that have already sold out, haven't officially gone on sale or are being offered for a reduced price. '

How can you protect yourself if you buy tickets online? ›

Protect yourself from online ticket scammers by following these tips:
  1. Buy tickets from official sources when possible. Sometimes the official ticketer sells out and resale is your only option. ...
  2. Avoid peer to peer payments. ...
  3. Double check the URL. ...
  4. Stay away from tickets on social media.
Mar 18, 2024

How can you tell if tickets are fake on Ticketmaster? ›

The only way to know your tickets are authentic is to buy Ticketmaster Verified Tickets directly from Ticketmaster or Live Nation, or get them at the venue box office. These tickets will always be 100% authentic. We can't verify tickets bought from a third-party.

What is a ticket protection? ›

Ticket insurance is a type of protection that might reimburse your ticket purchase if you can't attend an event for certain covered, unexpected reasons. Customers can purchase it as an add-on when they buy tickets to live events like sports games and concerts.

What does protecting your ticket do on Ticketmaster? ›

Ticket protection can give you 100% of your Ticketmaster® or Live Nation® ticket costs back—including taxes and fees—if you or a member of your group can't go due to a covered situation like a traffic accident, covered illness, injury, and more.

How to not get scammed buying tickets on Facebook Marketplace? ›

You can avoid scams on Facebook Marketplace by only using secure methods of payment, looking at buyer and seller reviews, inspecting an item closely before purchasing it and only communicating through Messenger.

Can you go to jail for scamming concert tickets? ›

Even if nothing else goes wrong with the sale, if you show up to the event with a faulty ticket, you could be arrested for trying to pass it off as real.

What is the safest way to buy concert tickets? ›

Check out our recommendations below!
  1. Make sure you buy directly from the event organizer or their ticketing partner. ...
  2. Bookmark the venue's ticket site. ...
  3. Join the mailing list. ...
  4. Follow the event organization/venue on social media. ...
  5. Set a timer 10 minutes before tickets go on sale. ...
  6. Call the venue ahead of time for insider tips.

What is the most secure way to buy concert tickets? ›

Some safe websites for concert tickets are Ticketmaster, Ticketcity, Ticketsmarter, and Stubhub. Fake sellers are common on Facebook Marketplace and Depop, as they safeguard the criminal's privacy and make it easy to deactivate their account.

Is it safe to book a ticket online? ›

It's safe to book online. It's not safe to book with OTA's that don't have live pricing. If that's not helfpul, what about this: Yes go ahead.

How do you check if my tickets are real? ›

For physical tickets, check the spelling, date, website link, and quality of the ticket. On closer inspection, real tickets will never include spelling errors. Genuine tickets are also printed on the front and back of high-quality paper stock.

How to buy tickets on Ticketmaster without getting scammed? ›

Instead of clicking on links provided in the message, go directly to Ticketmaster's official website by typing the URL into your browser or using a trusted bookmark. Reading reviews: Before purchasing tickets from third-party sellers, research their reputation and read reviews from other buyers.

Can tickets be fake if transferred through Ticketmaster? ›

Yes, it's safe. When you transfer a ticket, the person you are sending the tickets to must accept the tickets in our secure marketplace. When they accept their ticket, we issue a new barcode to them. This keeps you protected and they get secure tickets they can trust.

Is ticket scamming a crime? ›

Travel Fraud crimes , including ticket scams, are also illegal under state law so defendants could be prosecuted by a state district attorney as well as by federal authorities.

How do airline ticket scams work? ›

Scammers create fake or spoofed booking websites, and promote them online. Fraudsters build convincing, yet bogus, travel websites to offer special deals and steep discounts on flights — and then advertise them through search engine ads, phishing emails, or social media sites.

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