Quick Answers
Getting a refund from Ticketmaster if you are scammed depends on the type of scam and when you report it. Some key points:
- If you bought fake tickets from a third-party seller on Ticketmaster, you can get a refund by reporting it within 30 days of the event.
- If you are scammed into sending money outside the Ticketmaster platform, it is unlikely you will get a refund from Ticketmaster.
- If you are scammed into buying real tickets at inflated prices, Ticketmaster will generally not issue a refund.
- Protect yourself by only buying from official Ticketmaster sellers and being wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
Types of Ticketmaster Scams
There are a few common scams that can happen when buying tickets on Ticketmaster:
Fake Tickets
One scam is where a third-party seller lists fake tickets on Ticketmaster. They may copy details from real tickets and list them for in-demand events. If you buy these fake tickets and show up to the event, you will not get in.
Phishing Scams
Another scam is where you get an email or message that looks like it is from Ticketmaster asking you to provide personal or payment details. The scammer may say you have unpaid fees, need to re-send payment, or that there is an issue with your account. If you provide your details, the scammer can use them to steal your money or identity.
Inflated Prices
Some scammers will buy up tickets to popular events and resell them on Ticketmaster at highly inflated prices. While the tickets are real, you end up paying much more than the original face value. This is legal but is predatory on fans.
Getting a Refund for Fake Tickets
If you purchased fake tickets unknowingly from a third-party seller on Ticketmaster, you may be able to get a refund by reporting the fraud. Here is how it works:
- You must report the fake tickets to Ticketmaster within 30 days of the event date.
- You will need to provide proof that the tickets were fake, such as being denied entry to the event.
- If approved, Ticketmaster will provide a full refund of the tickets and fees.
- The refund comes from Ticketmaster, not the seller, as part of their guarantee.
Keep in mind that Ticketmaster will ban any seller caught selling fake tickets. However, new fake sellers constantly appear, so buyers still need to be cautious.
Requirements for Fake Ticket Refunds
Here are some key requirements Ticketmaster has for approving a fake ticket refund:
- You must report the fraud within 30 days of the event date.
- The tickets were purchased through Ticketmaster’s official website or apps.
- The seller you bought from was not Ticketmaster or the official event provider.
- You have evidence the tickets were fake, such as being denied entry.
If you meet these requirements, Ticketmaster will likely refund your money. But they may still investigate to ensure you are not trying to scam them as well.
Limits on Fake Ticket Refunds
There are some limits on Ticketmaster’s ticket guarantee refunds to prevent abuse:
- There is a time limit – refunds must be requested within 30 days of the event.
- There is a maximum dollar amount – currently up to $800 per ticket.
- The guarantee applies specifically to fake or non-valid tickets.
- It does not cover issues like tickets being lost or delivered late.
So you can get a full refund for fake tickets, but only if you act quickly and have evidence they were fraudulent. The refund covers the ticket price and Ticketmaster fees.
Getting Refunds for Other Scams
If you are scammed on Ticketmaster in other ways, it becomes much less likely you will get your money back:
Phishing Scams
If you provide personal or payment details to a phishing scam, Ticketmaster is not responsible for any resulting financial loss or identity theft. They will not provide any refund, as they did not authorize the scammer’s communication.
Inflated Prices
Ticketmaster also will not refund money if you willingly bought real tickets at inflated prices from a reseller. As long as the tickets are valid, they consider the transaction completed, even if you overpaid.
Payments Outside Ticketmaster
If you make any payments outside of Ticketmaster’s secure platform, such as via bank transfer, you also have no recourse for getting your money back if scammed. Ticketmaster will state they are not involved with these transactions in any way.
In these scenarios, you would need to try to recover funds directly from the scammer (unlikely) or make a fraud claim with your bank or local law enforcement. But Ticketmaster itself will generally not provide a refund in these cases.
How to Avoid Ticketmaster Scams
Here are some tips to avoid getting scammed on Ticketmaster:
- Only buy tickets from Ticketmaster directly or verified resale sellers.
- Avoid sellers with no reviews or ratings.
- Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
- Never pay with bank transfers, gift cards, crypto, etc.
- Use a credit card for buyer protection.
- Double check URLs for phishing sites.
- Ignore unsolicited emails, texts, calls about your tickets.
If you follow general online safety practices and only use Ticketmaster’s official platform, you can largely avoid scams and have recourse if you do encounter fake tickets.
Conclusion
Getting a refund from Ticketmaster if you are scammed depends greatly on the type of scam and when you report it:
- Fake tickets can be refunded if reported within 30 days with proof.
- Phishing scams and inflated prices are unlikely to be refunded.
- Payments made outside Ticketmaster are also non-refundable.
Protect yourself by only using Ticketmaster’s trusted marketplace and being cautious of deals that seem suspicious. If scammed with fake tickets, act quickly to report it so you can take advantage of their buyer guarantee.
For any other payment issues, unfortunately you would need to try recovering funds through your bank or authorities. Be vigilant to avoid scams from the start when buying tickets.
Scam Type | Will Ticketmaster Refund? |
---|---|
Fake tickets | Yes, if reported within 30 days with proof |
Phishing | No |
Inflated prices | No |
Payments outside platform | No |
In summary, Ticketmaster will have your back if you are defrauded into buying fake tickets on their platform. But for any other issues, you will need to pursue refunds through your bank or authorities.
The best protection is being vigilant against scams in the first place when purchasing tickets. Look for warning signs like prices that seem too good to be true or sellers with no reviews. Use trusted payment methods through Ticketmaster’s secure channels. And act quickly to report any suspected fake tickets to start the refund process.
Following these tips will help ensure that buying tickets is a smooth, scam-free process so you can sit back and enjoy the show.