Protecting Consumers from Ticketing Fraud and Deception
Buy Safe
Five simple tips to help consumers avoid scams and get what they pay for:
How to Buy Safe
1.
Whenever possible, buy from the official ticket seller. It is the only way to know for sure that your tickets are valid.
Buy From Official Sources
2.
When ticket resellers list tickets that don’t disclose a specific seat location, they are probably selling you something they don’t even have. That means there is a higher chance you won’t get the seats you were expecting, if you manage to get into the event at all.
Don’t Buy Speculative Tickets
3.
Scammers often use BOTs to secure mass quantities of tickets before real consumers have a chance, but you can take some steps to improve your chances of securing tickets. Pre-register for official primary on-sales if possible, and at the time of on-sale, make sure you are signed-in to your official marketplace account before sales begins.
Get Ahead of BOTs
4.
Check websites for small print indicating that you are on a secondary ticketing platform. When in doubt, call the venue to make sure you’re purchasing tickets from a legitimate source.
Check the URL
5.
Unfortunately, websites like Craigslist are rife with scams. Go to the official primary ticket seller first to ensure you’re getting real tickets. If tickets are sold out on the primary market, go to a legitimate resale platform and make sure to read the fine print and understand the terms of the transaction.
Avoid Unofficial Online Marketplaces