Buying tickets from unauthorized or unofficial sources always carries some risk that the tickets could be fake or fraudulent. However, there are some steps you can take to verify if your tickets are real before attending the event. Here are some tips on how to spot fake tickets and ensure your tickets are authentic:
Purchase From Trusted Sellers
The best way to avoid fake tickets is to only buy from authorized ticket sellers. For most major concerts, sporting events, theater shows etc., tickets will be sold through:
- The official box office for the event venue
- Official ticket retailer websites like Ticketmaster or StubHub
- Authorized ticket resellers that have a relationship with the event organizer
Purchasing directly from the venue or an authorized ticket outlet is the safest way to guarantee real tickets. Avoid buying from unknown third party sellers, classified ads, Craigslist, eBay, or scalpers outside the venue. Fraudulent sellers are more common on these platforms.
Beware of Deals That Seem Too Good To Be True
Fake ticket scams often lure buyers in with prices that are much lower than face value. If you find tickets being resold at a substantial discount compared to what you’d pay at the box office, it raises suspicions. Fraudsters bank on making a quick sale by offering extremely cheap tickets to get your money before you have time to scrutinize the tickets.
Check Security Features On the Tickets
Authentic event tickets have security features that can help you distinguish them from counterfeits. Check for:
- Thermal ink – Run your finger over the text/graphics – you should feel indentations in the paper
- Holograms – Tilt the ticket back and forth to see the hologram change
- Microprinted text – Tiny text that is readable under a magnifying glass
- Watermarks – Faint imagery visible when held up to the light
- UV ink – Glows under black light
- Foil elements – Portions of metallic foil used in design
Lack of any security features indicates the tickets may be fake. Calling the box office ahead of time can help you understand what security measures are built into real tickets.
Verify the Barcode
One way to authenticate tickets is to verify if the barcode is valid and properly linked to that event. Barcode readers can be found at some major venues – ask if you can scan your ticket to test it. You can also use online barcode scanning tools to see if the number is recognized as belonging to the right event. The barcode should come back associated with the correct event details.
Inspect Key Ticket Details
Take time to closely inspect all the text and details on the ticket and look for any signs of alteration:
- Dates/times: Verify the event date and start time match when the event is scheduled.
- Venue: The venue name should match where the event is being held.
- Seat details: Seat, row and section details should make sense for the venue layout.
- Price: Listed ticket price should align with expected ticket pricing.
- Misspellings: Fake tickets often contain spelling errors.
- Blurry or low-quality graphics: Authentic tickets have crisp, high resolution images and text.
Compare your tickets against images of real tickets that can often be found through the venue or event website.
Watch for Extra Stubs or Tickets
Counterfeiters will sometimes try to reproduce entire ticket books instead of individual tickets. Examine your tickets to see if they have extra adjoining stubs that don’t seem logical. Genuine tickets will only have stubs attached when you purchase multiple adjoining seats.
Feel the Paper Quality
Many official tickets are printed on high quality cardstock paper. Fake tickets might be on lower quality paper that feels too thin. The paper should also be free of bumps, tears or perforations that would indicate an amateur printing job.
Research the Seller
Before buying tickets on the secondary market, do some quick research on the seller:
- Check their feedback ratings if buying through a marketplace like StubHub.
- Search online for reviews from previous buyers.
- Look for contact details like a business name, phone number and physical address listed.
- See if they are a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB).
A highly rated seller who has been in business for many years is generally a safer bet when buying online. Be wary of sellers that seem completely anonymous or untraceable.
Ask About Verification Methods
Many ticket resellers verify the tickets they sell to combat fraud. Ask the seller about their authentication methods before purchasing. Sellers should provide documentation from the original source that proves the tickets are valid.
Buy With a Protected Payment
Never pay cash for resold tickets where you can’t verify legitimacy first. Use a credit card so you can dispute the charges if the tickets end up being fake. PayPal also offers buyer protection benefits on eligible purchases. Avoid wire transfers, pre-paid cards or other irreversible payment methods.
Confirm Before the Event
To have total peace of mind, it doesn’t hurt to verify your tickets again directly with the venue or box office right before the event. Tell them your specific seat info and have them look up your tickets in the ticketing system. This will confirm the seats have been legitimately sold and match your tickets.
Allow Time To Deal With Any Issues
By verifying ahead of time, you leave room to troubleshoot if any problems are uncovered. Whether it’s inaccurate tickets or potential fraud, you’ll have time to get valid replacements before event doors open. Avoid assuming your tickets are error-free until arriving at will call the day-of.
Check if Tickets Can Be Updated
Some venues can reissue ticket duplicates from the box office if needed. There is sometimes an extra fee, but it guarantees you working tickets. Calling ahead determines if this failsafe can save you if your original tickets end up being unusable for whatever reason.
How Can Venues Spot Fake Tickets?
Venues have a few methods to recognize fraudulent tickets when scanning at the entrance:
- Barcode doesn’t match system – The barcode scans as invalid or already used.
- UV markings missing – The ticket lacks markings only visible under black light.
- Holograms don’t verify – Scans of the holograms come back negative.
- Database lookup failure – The ticket seat ID isn’t found in the venue ticketing database.
Once a dubious ticket is flagged at the gate, additional visual inspection of the ticket usually reveals other signs of forgery as well. The attendee will be denied entry on counterfeit tickets for security reasons.
Common examples of fake ticket printing include:
- Blurry/pixelated barcodes that won’t scan properly
- Missing or incorrect security holograms
- Improper cardstock weight, texture and finish
- Smudged ink from low quality home printers
- Misaligned graphics or poorly recreated logos
Database Scanning
Most venues have switched to fully digital ticketing tied directly to the ticket holder’s identity. Scanning accesses a centralized database in real time rather than relying solely on the barcode. This provides an additional layer of fraud protection.
Blacklist Counterfeiters
If fake tickets can be traced back to a specific known counterfeiter, venues will add them to an internal watchlist. This prevents any tickets purchased from them in the future from being accepted.
What Are Common Ticket Counterfeiting Methods?
Ticket scammers have become increasingly sophisticated in attempting to reproduce authentic looking event tickets. Some of the ways counterfeit tickets are created include:
Digital Software Replicas
High quality desktop publishing software makes it possible to digitally design fake versions of real tickets. They incorporate scanned logos, imitation security features and other digitally manipulated elements. These fakes are then printed on standard printers.
Stolen Ticket Stock
Thieves will sometimes steal supplies of blank ticket stock paper from print shops that work with venues and teams. This full authentic cardstock can then be fed through regular printers.
Dumpster Diving
Hunting for discarded tickets in venue trash bins or dumpsters. Partially used authentic tickets can be copied and reprinted. Newly purchased tickets may also be retrieved before reaching customers.
Insider Jobs
This involves venue or box office employees illegally accessing the ticketing system to generate and sell counterfeits using the real stock and templates. They can replicate seat barcodes not yet purchased.
Altering Existing Tickets
Some scammers buy real cheap tickets then modify them to appear to be more expensive seats. This is done using solvents to alter text, seat info, barcodes etc.
Method | How It Works |
---|---|
Digital software replicas | Using desktop publishing software to design fake tickets |
Stolen ticket stock | Stealing authentic ticket paper from print shops |
Dumpster diving | Retrieving used tickets from venue trash for copying |
Insider jobs | Illegally using the ticketing system to generate counterfeits |
Altering existing tickets | Modifying real cheap tickets to appear to be more expensive |
Home Printing Improvements
As high resolution digital printing becomes more accessible and affordable for home use, it gets easier to create convincing fakes at home. Security features like holograms remain a challenge to reproduce.
Distribution Over the Internet
The internet provides a huge platform for scammers to anonymously sell an infinite number of counterfeit e-tickets to buyers across the country. Victims have decreased ability to track down the fraudsters.
Protect Yourself From Fake Ticket Scams
To fully protect yourself, use the following precautions when buying tickets:
- Purchase from official sources like the box office whenever possible.
- Avoid street scalpers or unknown resellers.
- Research the seller and read reviews if buying online.
- Verify security features against images of real tickets.
- Inspect tickets closely upon receipt.
- Pay with a credit card for buyer protection.
- Confirm tickets with the venue ahead of the event.
Being informed on how to spot signs of counterfeiting is also key. Telltale signs of potentially fake tickets include:
- Prices that seem too low
- Lacking standard security features
- Generic cardstock vs. official ticket paper
- Unclear seller business details
- Spelling, image or logo errors
- Damaged or perforated edges
Stay vigilant when seeking out event tickets and don’t let great deals blind you to potential scams. As long as you verify legitimacy, you can buy tickets online or resale with confidence.
Avoid Public Computers or Wifi
If purchasing tickets online, use your own private computer and internet access. Public computers or free wifi connections can expose your information. Fraudsters sometimes set up hotspots to steal financial data.
Beware Scams Through Social Media
Scammers are increasingly targeting social platforms like Facebook and Instagram to peddle fake tickets. Avoid purchasing through classified ads or DMs on social media where you can’t verify the source.
Photocopies Are Always Fake
Never accept photocopied or black & white printouts of tickets, even as “backups”. Scammers often provide these before running off with your money. There is no reason a legitimate seller would be unable to produce originals.
Conclusion
While fake tickets continue to be a problem for major events, if you know what to look for, you can better protect yourself as a consumer. Scrutinize important ticket details, research your seller, and verify before the event whenever possible. Buying directly from trusted authorized sellers remains the best way to guarantee authenticity. With proper precautions, you can stop ticket scammers in their tracks and enjoy peace of mind.