When you purchase a ticket for an event, concert, airline flight, or other service, how can you be sure the ticket is authentic and valid? Unfortunately, fake tickets are common, especially for high-demand events that sell out quickly. Scammers take advantage of eager buyers looking for tickets. Knowing how to verify a ticket’s authenticity can help you avoid losing money on counterfeit or voided tickets. This article will explore ways to prove if a ticket is real and valid.
Examine the ticket closely
When you receive a ticket, scrutinize it carefully for signs of authenticity. Genuine tickets have specific security features and information printed on them.
Security features
Many tickets have custom security features to prevent counterfeiting. These may include:
- Holograms – A multi-dimensional holographic image on the ticket that is difficult to reproduce.
- Watermarks – Faint images embedded in the ticket background that are visible when held up to the light.
- Special inks -tickets may be printed with UV-sensitive or color-changing inks.
- Embedded graphics – tickets often have complex designs, colors, and images embedded in the background.
- Heat-sensitive ink – Some ink on the ticket reacts to heat by changing colors.
- Serial numbers – Tickets have a unique serial number printed on them.
Examine the ticket closely under regular and UV light sources to look for these security features. Sophisticated printing and holograms are very difficult to counterfeit. If any of these security features are missing or look different than expected, it may indicate a fake ticket.
Ticket information
Along with security features, genuine tickets also contain specific information like:
- The venue name.
- Event name, date, and time.
- Seat number/ticket number.
- Barcode or QR code.
- Price of the ticket.
- Row and seat numbers.
This information should be accurate and match details provided when you purchased the ticket. Closely examine all printed information on the ticket to ensure it is correct. Fake tickets may contain misspellings or inaccurate details as clues they are counterfeit.
Verify authenticity codes
If a ticket has an authenticity code printed on it, you can verify it through the seller. Scratch-off coatings may cover a section of the ticket with an alphanumeric code. Enter the code on the event provider or ticket seller website. It should state if the code is valid and match your specific ticket details. If not, the code is forged.
You can also call the box office and provide the code to have them manually verify it. Unique codes prove the ticket is not a photocopy. Always check codes on the tickets to confirm they are legitimate.
Scan barcode/QR code
Another way to check if tickets are real is to scan any barcode or QR code printed on them. Use your phone to scan the code, which should direct you to the ticket seller’s site. On the site, enter your ticket details. If the ticket is valid, it will display your specific event, seat, date, and other info.
You can also scan the codes at the venue on the day of the event. The scanners will instantly confirm if the ticket is authentic and has not been voided. If you buy a ticket secondhand, be sure to meet the seller at the venue early and verify the code scans properly on the event scanners before entering.
Purchase from reputable sources
The simplest way to avoid counterfeit tickets is to only buy from trustworthy official sources:
- The venue’s box office website.
- The event organizer’s official website.
- Authorized ticket retailers like Ticketmaster.
- Official fan club pre-sales.
- Licensed ticket resale marketplaces like StubHub.
Avoid buying tickets through unverified third parties like Craigslist or eBay. Even if the tickets appear official, they could be stolen or resold against the venue terms. Tickets purchased from unauthorized sellers have a much higher fraud risk.
Review seller ratings
When purchasing secondhand tickets from a reseller marketplace like StubHub, check the seller’s ratings. Most sites have seller profiles that display their rating, number of sales, and reviews. A high rating with many positive reviews indicates a reputable seller.
Be wary of sellers with no ratings or negative feedback. Their tickets have a higher likelihood of being fraudulent or voided. Buying from an unrated seller is risky. Review seller profiles before making a purchase.
Get seller contact info
Ask the ticket seller for their full contact information before buying tickets secondhand. Get their name, address, email, and phone number at minimum. Ask them to provide identification like a driver’s license or business license. Record their contact details alongside your ticket information.
This gives you recourse if the tickets end up being invalid. You can report the seller and provide their details to law enforcement. Responsible sellers will readily provide their contact info to legitimate buyers. Refusal could signify fraudulent intent.
Meet in person for exchange
When buying tickets on secondary sites, arrange an in-person exchange whenever possible. Meet the seller at a safe public place to complete the handoff. Physically inspect the tickets and verify them.
Meeting face-to-face prevents many types of ticket scams. Avoid paying for or accepting delivery of tickets you cannot personally examine first. Only pay cash upon a satisfactory inspection. Beware of sellers using escrow services or refusing to meet in public.
Confirm ticket transfer
For electronic tickets, ensure the seller properly transfers them to you. Tickets sold online are usually tied to the original purchaser and cannot be forwarded or downloaded. The seller must contact the ticket company to reassign the tickets to you officially.
Confirm with the ticket company the tickets are now in your name and connected to your account. Print out a receipt showing the ticket ownership transfer. Without proper transfer, e-tickets could be invalid.
Pay with a credit card
When purchasing tickets online from a website, use a credit card for payment if possible. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, credit card customers have protections for billing disputes. If you receive fake tickets, you can contest the charges by filing a dispute claim.
Your credit card issuer will investigate the sale and may refund your money if fraud can be proven. Debit cards and direct bank transfers don’t have the same protections. Credit cards offer more accountability and are safer for ticket purchases.
Use buyer protection programs
Sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats offer buyer guarantees or protection programs for ticket purchases. This provides a full refund if tickets end up being invalid or fake. To qualify, you must buy from a seller who meets the site’s criteria.
Verify the tickets and seller qualify for buyer protection before purchasing. This provides recourse to get your money back if issues arise later with ticket authenticity. Make sure you understand the specific buyer guarantee terms.
Consider ticket insurance
Ticket insurance provides a replacement guarantee if tickets are lost, stolen or turn out to be fraudulent. Companies like TicketGuardian and TicketAssure offer policies to protect ticket investments. Optional insurance costs a small premium above face ticket value.
File a claim if your tickets have problems. The insurer will conduct an investigation and provide replacement tickets if deemed valid. Insurance can grant peace of mind for expensive tickets. Make sure policies cover fraudulent or counterfeit tickets.
Verify ahead of time
Avoid surprises at the event by verifying your tickets’ validity ahead of time. Contact the box office with your ticket details and ask them to confirm everything is correct. You can also visit the venue box office early and have staff scan your ticket codes on their systems.
Checking ahead gives you time to address any issues. Finding out your tickets are void when you arrive at the event is problematic. Validate your tickets early to identify any problems with authenticity.
How to spot fake tickets
Besides verifying authenticity, visually inspecting tickets can reveal signs they might be counterfeit:
- Lack required security features like holograms
- Colors, fonts, images look low quality
- Barcode/QR code doesn’t scan or link to invalid website
- Misspellings, typos, or grammatical errors
- pricing, dates, or other details are inaccurate
- Generic stock images instead of official graphics
- Missing ticket numbers, serial codes, or vital info
- Seller unwilling to provide contact information
Fake tickets often have slight details that seem “off” upon close inspection. If anything seems suspicious or inaccurate, the tickets may be fraudulent. Don’t ignore red flags.
What to do if sold fake tickets
If you determine tickets are fake, void, or invalid, take these steps:
- Contact seller – Notify them tickets are fraudulent and request full refund.
- Dispute with bank – If purchased with credit card, file a chargeback dispute for refund.
- Verify buyer protection – Check if third party guarantee refunds are available.
- Contact authorities – File police report regarding ticket fraud if seller uncooperative.
- Leave reviews – Post truthful reviews about the counterfeit tickets to warn others.
- Seek legal advice – Consult lawyer if significant money lost on major event tickets.
Also notify the box office, event organizer, and ticketing platforms about the fake tickets. Provide them details to prevent further fraud.
Conclusion
Fake tickets can dash plans and lead to major disappointment outside event doors. Stop ticket scammers in their tracks by meticulously verifying ticket authenticity before buying. Examine security features, scan codes, buy only from reputable sources, and confirm ticket transfers. If sold fraudulent tickets, act quickly to get refunds and alert authorities. Stay vigilant to ensure your tickets to that hot concert, game, or show are legitimate. Careful verification provides the proof you need so you can enter events with confidence.