Buying second hand tickets can be a great way to get deals on concerts, sports games, and other events. However, there are also risks associated with buying tickets from unofficial sources. Scammers often take advantage of eager buyers looking for sold out events. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to avoid getting scammed when buying second hand tickets. This comprehensive guide will provide tips on finding legitimate sellers, spotting fraudulent tickets, and protecting yourself when purchasing second hand tickets.
Where to Find Second Hand Tickets
Here are some common places where you can find second hand tickets for sale:
Online Marketplaces
Websites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and StubHub are popular online platforms where people resell event tickets. These sites offer convenience and selection when browsing for tickets. However, they also carry risks of scams since you are dealing with individuals rather than official ticket vendors. Be sure to thoroughly vet sellers on these platforms.
Ticket Reseller Websites
There are many reputable online ticket resellers such as Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and ScoreBig that provide a marketplace for individuals to sell extra tickets. These sites have processes in place to validate sellers and tickets. Purchasing through them generally carries less risk than peer-to-peer platforms.
Ticket Exchange Groups
Joining Facebook groups or online forums dedicated to ticket resales for specific teams or venues can be a good way to find tickets from other fans. Make sure the group is well-established and reputable. Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true.
In-Person Outside the Venue
You may find people holding up signs or shouting “buying or selling tickets” outside of the event. Only purchase this way if you can inspect the tickets on the spot and enter the venue immediately. Otherwise, it’s best to avoid since tickets could be fraudulent.
Tips for Avoiding Scams
Here are some top tips for recognizing real versus fake tickets when buying second hand:
Inspect Ticket Details
Look at the ticket closely and ensure that details like the date, time, seat number, barcode and venue name match the event. Fake tickets often have incorrect or blurred details. Also look for the official ticket issuer’s logo on the ticket.
Buy Early
Purchasing tickets far in advance gives you more time to verify legitimacy and avoid last minute scams. The longer you wait, the more desperate you and sellers become, increasing chances of fakes.
Meet in Person
Only hand over money once you have met the seller, inspected the tickets in person and confirmed authenticity. If purchasing online, choose ticket transfer rather than mailing.
Avoid Scam Warnings
Do not purchase from sellers that warn against scamming or provide explanations for why they cannot meet in person or transfer tickets electronically. This is a major red flag.
Research the Seller
Buying from an established seller with positive reviews helps avoid scams. Be wary of sellers with no ratings or reviews.
Use a Secure Payment Method
Never pay with cash, wire transfer or nonrefundable forms of payment. Always use credit cards so you can dispute fraudulent charges.
Confirm before Event
Ensure tickets are valid and working shortly before the event starts to give time to find replacements if needed.
Recognizing Fake vs Real Tickets
There are visual and technical aspects that distinguish counterfeit tickets from authentic ones. Here are ways to tell if a ticket is fake:
Lower Quality Print
Authentic ticketing vendors use high resolution printing and specialty paper. Fake tickets often appear pixelated, dull in color or copied. The text may be blurry.
Lack of Security Features
Many tickets have special inks, watermarks, holograms or UV coatings. Unofficial tickets lack these security features that are visible under a black light.
Spelling/Formatting Errors
Fake tickets often have typos, misspellings and other text errors. The font maybe inconsistent throughout the ticket.
No Official Branding
Authentic tickets include branding from the venue, event promoter and authorized ticketing company. Scannable barcodes will be from a known ticket seller.
Incorrect Details
Verify that key ticket details like the event name, date, seats and barcode numbers match reality and align with what the seller advertises.
Damaged Barcodes
Because the barcode is scanned for entry, scammers often damage that part of the ticket to avoid detection. An unscannable barcode is a red flag.
Price Too Good to Be True
Extremely low prices far below face value likely indicate fake tickets. Significant discounts could mean tickets were already used/invalid.
Fake Ticket Signs | Real Ticket Signs |
---|---|
Pixelated print quality | Crisp, high resolution print |
Typos and spelling errors | Accurate text and details |
Blurred images/text | Sharp images and legible text |
Missing security features | Holograms, watermarks, UV ink |
Unofficial branding | Known venue and ticket issuer logos |
Barcode doesn’t scan | Working barcode |
Prices too low | Fair market value price |
Protecting Yourself from Scams
Here are some best practices for avoiding scams and purchasing safely:
Stick to Trusted Sellers
Vet your seller thoroughly and only buy from sources with excellent reviews and ratings. Avoid sellers with no or poor reputations.
Do Not Pay in Advance
Never pay for tickets until you have received and inspected them in person. Reputable sellers will agree to meet face-to-face.
Use Escrow Services
Third party escrow services like PayPal Goods and Services hold your payment until you confirm delivery of valid tickets. This protects you if the tickets end up being fraudulent.
Avoid Public Computers/WiFi
When purchasing online, use your personal computer on a secure internet connection. Public computers and networks increase risk.
Read Terms Thoroughly
Understand the ticket marketplaces terms of use, buyer guarantees and fraud policies regarding recourse if you receive fake tickets.
Use Credit Cards
Credit cards provide fraud protection and allow you to dispute charges if you get scammed. Avoid unrefundable payments like bank transfers.
Verify Early
Confirm your tickets are valid a few days before the event. This allows time to troubleshoot if there is an issue.
Print Backup Copies
For extra assurance, print out a physical copy of E-tickets you purchased in case of issues with mobile entry.
What to Do if You are Scammed
If you end up with fake tickets, here are steps to take right away:
Contact the Seller
Politely reach out to the seller, point out the tickets are fake and request a refund. If they refuse, clearly convey you will escalate the issue.
Report the Listing
If you purchased on a marketplace like StubHub or Craigslist, report the fraudulent listing to get it removed and prevent others from being scammed.
File a Chargeback
If you paid by credit card, immediately contact your card issuer, explain the fraud, and file a chargeback request to reverse the charges. Provide evidence like screenshots.
Contact Authorities
You can report the scam to the FTC and your local police department to potentially help prevent the seller from victimizing others.
Leave Negative Reviews
Help warn others by leaving factual negative reviews about the seller on marketplace sites, Google Business profiles etc. describing how the tickets were fraudulent.
Find Replacement Tickets
Unfortunately, you will likely still need to purchase last minute replacement tickets from a legitimate source if the event is still impending.
Learn for Next Time
Do your research before trying again. Update your approach based on where things went wrong to avoid repeating mistakes. Being scammed stings, but at least you can help others avoid the same fate.
Conclusion
While buying second hand tickets can be risky, you can avoid scams by thoroughly vetting sellers, meeting in-person to inspect tickets, using protected payment methods, confirming validity before the event, and knowing the signs of fake tickets. Take your time, trust your intuition, and walk away from deals that seem questionable. If you do become victim to a ticket scam, act quickly to report the fraud and seek compensation. Implement lessons learned for smarter ticket buying in the future. The rewards of scoring legitimate second hand tickets are well worth the extra precautions.