Purchasing event tickets online comes with some risks, as scammers often take advantage of eager fans looking for sold out events. However, with some caution and research, you can avoid getting scammed and ensure you receive valid tickets.
Verify the Seller
Before purchasing any tickets, first verify that the seller is reputable. If buying from a ticket resale marketplace like StubHub or Vivid Seats, check reviews and confirm they are a licensed reseller. If purchasing through an individual seller, research their name online and ask for references from past buyers.
Be wary of sellers with no online presence or poor/no reviews. Only purchase from official event venues, authorized resellers, or sellers you can confirm are trustworthy.
Look for Signs of Scams
Some red flags that indicate a ticket scam include:
- Prices that seem too good to be true
- Requests to pay in unusual ways like wire transfers or gift cards
- Ads using stock photos instead of actual ticket images
- Sellers unable to provide a physical address or contact information
Use your best judgment – if something seems fishy about a listing, it’s best to avoid purchasing the tickets.
Verify Payment Options
Choose payment methods that offer fraud protection. Avoid wire transfers, cash payments, and other irreversible options. PayPal, StubHub, and major credit cards offer buyer protection for disputed charges.
Check policies on how you will be reimbursed if the tickets end up being fraudulent. Many sites will refund your money if scammed tickets are discovered.
Request Ticket Images
Always ask the seller to provide photos or PDFs of the actual tickets they are selling. Scrutinize ticket details like the seat number, barcode, event name, date, and venue. Fake tickets will often contain misspellings, incorrect dates, or other errors.
Compare the tickets against images from the official venue or past event tickets to spot inconsistencies. If a seller refuses to provide photos, it’s likely a scam.
Ask Detailed Questions
Engage the seller in conversation and ask specific questions about the tickets such as:
- When did you purchase the tickets?
- Why are you reselling them?
- How will you transfer the tickets?
- Is overnight shipping available?
Vague answers, attempts to avoid questions, or requests for more money are red flags. Legitimate sellers should readily share details about the tickets.
Confirm Delivery Method
Always buy electronic tickets or opt for secure delivery like overnight mail with tracking. Standard mail leaves you no recourse if tickets never arrive. Avoid pickup in person as you won’t have a transaction record.
Make sure electronic tickets can be transferred and reissued if needed. Printed tickets should come with a photocopy reproduction disclaimer on the back.
Research Average Ticket Prices
Check average resale values on trustworthy sites like StubHub to get a price range for the event tickets. Unusually cheap prices are a giveaway it’s a scam. Be wary of prices more than 15% below current resale averages.
For very high demand events, be cautious of prices even at or below face value. Scammers often attempt to sell fraudulent tickets cheap to attract buyers.
Compare Multiple Listings
Search online marketplaces for similar listings to the tickets you are considering. Compare ticket locations, prices, and seat numbers.
Listings using identical ticket images or details are a giveaway that scammers are attempting to sell fake tickets in multiple places. Choose a reputable seller you can verify is legitimate.
Beware Uncommon Perks
Be skeptical of any tickets bundled with extras like meet and greets, backstage passes, or VIP packages. These are rare for resale tickets and commonly used as irresistible perks on fake ticket listings.
Stick to ticket-only purchases from sellers you can thoroughly verify and research.
Inspect Tickets Upon Receipt
As soon as printed tickets arrive, scrutinize all details, security features, and included redemption codes. Ensure they match the original listing description and images.
For electronic tickets, carefully review on the original venue or reseller app. Check transferability and screenshot ticket details to ensure they match the original receipt and listing.
If any aspect seems fraudulent, reach out immediately before the event to resolve the issue and receive a refund.
Perform Ticket Checks
Many venues allow you to contact their box office to verify if printed tickets are valid. Provide the ticket details and barcode to have them quickly checked against their event records.
Alternatively, carefully compare your tickets against past event seats charts to spot inconsistencies. If a seat doesn’t exist or the ticket doesn’t match the chart, it is likely fraudulent.
Allow Time for Replacement
Be sure to inspect your tickets immediately upon delivery to allow adequate time for replacements if scammed. Reputable sellers often expressly guarantee replacement tickets if any issues arise.
Waiting until the event date to inspect leaves you little recourse if your tickets end up being fake.
Only Purchase from Trusted Resellers
To avoid getting scammed, only purchase from official event venues or large reputable ticket resellers like:
Reseller | Website |
---|---|
StubHub | stubhub.com |
Vivid Seats | vividseats.com |
Ticketmaster | ticketmaster.com |
SeatGeek | seatgeek.com |
These sites offer buyer guarantees if any issues arise with tickets. Avoid lesser known resellers that you cannot thoroughly verify reviews and reputation for.
Check for Verified Resale Partners
Many official venues partner with authorized resellers they trust to handle resales. Check a venue’s website for verified resale partners to purchase from.
Purchasing from an authorized partner gives you peace of mind knowing the venue works with and approves of the reseller.
Research Sellers Online
Before purchasing tickets, thoroughly research any seller online. Search for reviews, complaints, ratings, and profiles on websites like BBB, TrustPilot, and social media.
Fraudulent sellers will unlikely have an established online presence and reputation. Extensive positive history indicates a seller you can trust.
Use Safe Payment Methods
Always use payment methods that offer fraud protection and refund capabilities. Recommended options include:
- Credit Cards – Buyer protection for disputed charges.
- PayPal – Refunds payments if scammed.
- StubHub – Replaces fraudulent tickets purchased on site.
Avoid risky irreversible payments like wire transfers, Bitcoin, gift cards or cash. You lose all recourse recovering your money with these methods.
Check Payment Policies
Before purchasing, understand the site or seller’s policy on refunds for fraudulent tickets. Many reputable sites expressly guarantee refunds in scam situations.
Know how you need to report the fraudulent tickets and any time limits that apply to receive your money back.
Save All Transaction Records
Keep all receipts, order confirmations, delivery notifications, and communications with the seller. If the tickets end up being fake, these records will be necessary for any dispute and refund request.
Submit copies of everything you have when reporting fraudulent tickets to prove you were scammed.
Conclusion
While scammers attempting to sell fake tickets create risks when purchasing online, you can avoid getting scammed by thoroughly vetting sellers, paying safely, confirming ticket validity upon receipt, and only purchasing from reputable sources.
Research sellers, check security features, and trust your instinct – if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. Take your time and use caution, and you can obtain tickets from trustworthy sources and ensure your event experience goes smoothly.