Buying concert tickets can be an exciting experience, especially if it’s for your favorite artist. However, fake tickets being sold by scalpers and scammers have become a big problem. No one wants to spend their hard-earned money on fake or invalid tickets and show up to the concert just to be turned away at the door. So how do you make sure the tickets you are buying are legitimate and will get you into the show?
Check for official ticket sources
The best way to ensure your tickets are valid is to buy from official sources like the venue’s box office, the band’s website, or a well-known primary ticket seller like Ticketmaster or AXS. Purchasing from the official source guarantees the tickets are legitimate and official. Sure, you’ll likely pay more than buying from a secondary reseller, but official sources are the only way to completely avoid the risk of fake tickets.
Many big-name artists even use Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program now for ticket access, which requires you to register ahead of time and get a code to access the sale. This aims to circumvent bots scooping up all the tickets and leaving fans empty-handed. It takes some extra planning, but can give you peace of mind you are buying valid tickets.
Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true
If you see tickets being resold for far below face value, it’s probably a scam. Fake ticket sellers often lure buyers in with “deals” that are unrealistic. General admission tickets originally priced at $50 being resold for $10 or front row seats marked down from $500 to $100 are likely bogus. Discounted tickets can be legitimate if bought from a trusted broker, but prices that seem wildly low should raise red flags.
Scalpers with fake tickets are banking on making a quick sale on tickets they don’t actually possess. They will often mark the price way down to generate fast interest before people catch on. Be very cautious of any tickets being sold at well below face value or current resale market price. At best you lose your money on a fake ticket, at worst you could be the victim of identity theft by providing personal information.
Verify the tickets through official channels
Once you buy a ticket, check that it is valid and verified. Most major ticketing platforms offer verification services to validate if the ticket is real. StubHub offers a FanProtect Guarantee with refunds if tickets are invalid. VividSeats also lets you verify ticket authenticity online or via their app. Ticketmaster has a Verified Tickets feature where you can scan the barcode before the event to instantly check if it is legit.
You can also contact the original ticket issuer, like the venue box office or Ticketmaster, with the ticket info and barcode to ask them to verify the ticket. Taking this extra step provides peace of mind that you didn’t just flush your money down the drain on a fake ticket. Knowing the tickets are valid ahead of time lets you avoid an unpleasant surprise when you show up for the concert.
Use trusted ticket resale marketplaces
There are many ticket resale marketplaces, but the most reliable ones will guarantee your tickets are valid or your money back. Stick to well-established sites like StubHub, VividSeats, or TicketNetwork when looking for resale tickets. Avoid buying from individual sellers on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or other direct peer-to-peer platforms where there is a higher fraud risk.
Reputable resale sites have guarantees in place and will revoke fraudulent tickets so you don’t get ripped off. You’ll pay higher fees compared to peer-to-peer sales, but the extra cost brings more security. Also be sure to buy early before fake tickets flood the resale market closer to the event. The longer you wait, the more likely scammers will have posted bogus tickets.
Meet in person for ticket exchange
If buying from an individual ticket reseller rather than a marketplace site, insist on meeting in person to complete the exchange. Never pay upfront for tickets you haven’t received yet. And don’t accept e-tickets or PDFs that could easily be fake. Physically exchange cash for an authentic paper ticket on the spot.
Meeting face-to-face lets you carefully inspect the ticket for any signs of fraud like incorrect venue name, misspellings, missing Ticketmaster verification marks, different perforations or textures, etc. It also prevents scammers from simply taking your money and disappearing without ever providing a ticket in return.
Pay with a credit card or payment app
Avoid paying cash when purchasing concert tickets from an individual, if possible. Using a credit card or payment app like PayPal provides you with buyer protection in case the tickets turn out to be bogus. You can contest the charges and potentially get your money back by filing a claim.
Wire transfers, gift cards, Cash App, and Venmo are risky payment methods since transactions can’t be canceled. Stick with credit cards or PayPal if not doing a cash exchange in person. Never provide your credit card details directly to a seller either – legit marketplace sites will facilitate checkout securely without exposing your info.
Look into ticket insurance
Ticket insurance from a provider like Allianz Entertainment Insurance lets you buy with more confidence since you’ll get a payout if the tickets end up being fake. Insurance adds to the total cost, but gives you a safety net in case you accidentally buy invalid or fraudulent tickets.
Allianz and other insurers cover you in scenarios like being denied entry with the purchased tickets, tickets being reported lost or stolen before the event, or the event being cancelled altogether. It’s one more layer of protection against losing both your tickets and your money.
Ticket Source | Fake Ticket Risk |
---|---|
Official box office or band website | Very low |
Major ticket sellers (Ticketmaster, AXS, etc.) | Low |
Reputable resale marketplaces (StubHub, VividSeats, etc.) | Low-moderate |
Individual resellers (Craigslist, Facebook, eBay, etc.) | High |
Report suspicious sellers
If you come across a seller you suspect is peddling fake tickets, report them. You can notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about deceptive business practices. Also alert any online marketplace the tickets are listed on so they can remove the posts and ban the user.
The more diligent fans are about reporting scammers, the fewer people will fall victim to buying fake tickets. Marketplaces don’t want fraud happening on their platforms. Do your part by flagging suspicious ticket sellers so others don’t mistakenly buy their invalid tickets.
Conclusion
Avoiding fake tickets comes down to using trusted official sources, being wary of deals that look too good to be true, meeting sellers in person, paying securely, and doing your due diligence verifying tickets. While scammers are eager to trick eager concertgoers with counterfeit tickets, you can have peace of mind by following these tips.
Buying concert tickets will always have risks, but arming yourself with information helps minimize those risks. Know the red flags of possible fake tickets, use your best judgment, and take steps to authenticate tickets before completing any purchase. An exciting concert experience awaits as long as you don’t fall into the traps set by unscrupulous ticket scalpers and scammers.