Getting scammed when buying tickets online can be incredibly frustrating. You find what look like great tickets to a concert, sports event, or show, only to later realize the seller was a scammer and the tickets don’t actually exist. This leaves you out the money you paid and without tickets. If you purchased the bogus tickets using PayPal, is it possible to get your money back? Here’s what to know about PayPal’s refund policies for ticket scams.
How ticket scams work
Ticket scammers use a variety of tricks to rip people off. Some of the most common ticket scams include:
- Fake ticket listings – The scammer lists fake tickets for sale on sites like Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace. They may copy images and details from real ticket listings to make theirs look authentic.
- Selling “guaranteed” tickets – The scammer claims they can guarantee tickets to sold out or high demand events, demanding payment upfront before disappearing with your money.
- “Third party” ticket brokers – Some scammers pretend to be third party ticket brokers, creating fake brokerage websites to process payments and gain your trust.
- Fake ticket websites – Scammers create fake websites pretending to sell tickets, often mimicking the branding of real ticket sellers to look more legitimate.
In many cases, the scammer will request payment via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or another digital payment platform. This allows them to quickly obtain your money without providing anything in return.
PayPal’s refund policies for ticket scams
PayPal does have policies in place to help protect buyers from ticket scams. However, getting your money back depends on a few key factors.
Reporting the issue quickly
One of the most important things is reporting unauthorized transactions or scams to PayPal as quickly as possible. PayPal’s User Agreement states:
For unauthorized transactions, we will reimburse you for your losses, but you must inform us without undue delay upon becoming aware of any unauthorized transactions or unauthorized use of your PayPal account. In any event, you must report an unauthorized transaction no later than 60 days after your PayPal account statement reflecting such transaction is made available to you.
This means you generally have up to 60 days from the transaction date to file a dispute and request a refund from PayPal. The shorter window you have, the better, as PayPal is more likely to side in your favor.
Using PayPal’s purchase protection
PayPal does offer purchase protection for buyers, which can cover you from certain scams. This protection is automatically applied to any eligible purchases where PayPal is used to pay a merchant or seller directly. It provides coverage in cases like:
- You didn’t receive your ticket at all from the seller.
- You received a ticket that was fake or counterfeit.
- You received a ticket that was “significantly not as described” by the seller.
However, there are certain limitations. For physical goods and tickets, PayPal only provides this protection when the items are shipped – not for in-person exchanges. And you need to file a dispute through PayPal’s Resolution Center within 180 days of the transaction.
Seller limitations
Whether you receive a refund can also depend on the seller you purchased from. If the seller has a history of complaints or shady activity, PayPal is more likely to side with you as the buyer. But for sellers seemingly acting in good faith, PayPal may deny claims more frequently.
PayPal also notes that tickets sold by individuals are generally not covered at all. Their policy states:
When you buy tickets from an individual seller, your transaction is not eligible for reimbursement under PayPal’s Purchase Protection program.
So if you purchased from an individual reselling their tickets on Craigslist for example, rather than an official broker, you likely have no recourse through PayPal.
Documentation
Providing documentation is key when disputing transactions with PayPal. The more details you can provide about the situation, the better. Important documents include:
- Screenshots of the original ticket listing or seller’s claims.
- Screenshots of your transaction and payment history in PayPal.
- Any email exchanges you had with the seller.
- Proof showing their listing was fraudulent or inaccurate.
This documentation helps prove you were scammed and acted in good faith as a buyer.
Steps to dispute transactions and request refunds
If you believe you’ve been the victim of a ticket scam, here are the steps to take in PayPal to dispute the charge and request your money back:
- Contact the seller: Communicate with the seller through PayPal messages letting them know you haven’t received the tickets yet or they appear to be fraudulent. Give them a chance to provide the tickets or issue a refund directly before escalating.
- Open a dispute: If the seller is unresponsive or refuses to refund you, open a dispute through PayPal’s Resolution Center. This is where you can explain the situation and formally request PayPal’s help obtaining a refund.
- Provide documentation: Upload or send PayPal any relevant documentation, screenshots, or other evidence supporting your claim.
- Wait for PayPal’s review: PayPal will review both sides of the dispute and make a decision about whether to issue you a refund. This can take some time depending on their investigation process.
- Escalate if needed: If PayPal sides with the seller initially, you can escalate the dispute to a claim with additional information. This forces PayPal to review the transaction again.
One thing to note is that PayPal may refund your money quickly as a credit while they complete their investigation. But if they find you weren’t eligible for buyer protection, they can always reverse this credit later by debiting your account. So the refund isn’t guaranteed until the process fully completes.
Tips for avoiding ticket scams
While PayPal may reimburse you if scammed, it’s always better to avoid fake ticket situations altogether. Here are some tips to help buy tickets safely:
- Use official ticket retailers like Ticketmaster when possible, rather than individual resellers.
- Search seller names online to check for negative reviews or scam reports.
- Avoid “too good to be true” deals like prices way below market value.
- Watch out for typos, grammatical errors, or other red flags on seller websites.
- Verify the ticket listing includes detailed seat numbers, sections, and venue information.
- Search online images to ensure photos in the listing aren’t stolen from elsewhere.
- Don’t buy tickets using platforms with no buyer protection like cash, wire transfer, etc.
- Read listings carefully and ask questions to fully understand what you’re buying.
Remaining vigilant during your ticket search can help you recognize and avoid scams before making a costly purchase. If you do fall victim despite your best efforts, contact PayPal as quickly as possible for help recovering your money.
Conclusion
Getting scammed is never a good feeling, especially when event tickets are involved that you were excited to use. If you end up purchasing fake or fraudulent tickets with PayPal, there are options to dispute the charge and potentially get your money back. PayPal does offer purchase protection and other security policies to protect buyers in many cases. However, reimbursement is never guaranteed. Your best recourse is being an informed buyer, researching sellers thoroughly, and avoiding questionable ticket deals online. But if you do lose money sending PayPal payments for tickets, report the issue immediately to give yourself the best chance of getting refunded.