Buying tickets for concerts, sports games, and other events online has become very common. Unfortunately, this has also led to an increase in scams involving fake or fraudulent tickets. Fake tickets can leave you out a lot of money and unable to attend the event you wanted to see. Here are some tips on how to avoid buying fake tickets and protect yourself as a consumer.
Only Use Reputable Sellers
The best way to avoid fake tickets is to only buy from authorized, reputable sellers. Avoid buying tickets from sellers you don’t know or trust. Some signs a seller may not be legitimate include:
- Prices that are much lower than face value
- Lack of customer service contact information
- No physical address for the business
- Misspellings or other errors in listings
Stick to well-known ticket resale marketplaces like StubHub or VividSeats, the official box office for the event, or other sellers you can verify are authorized by the venue or event organizers.
Check for Verified Sellers and Guarantees
Many reputable ticket marketplaces will verify the sellers on their platform and offer guarantees to protect buyers. Look for ticket platforms that:
- Clearly indicate if a seller is verified/trusted
- Provide buyer guarantees – like refunds if tickets are invalid
- Use technology to screen for potentially fraudulent sellers
- Have customer service to assist with any issues
These types of protections give you recourse as the ticket buyer if anything goes wrong.
Avoid Certain Payment Methods
Be cautious with payment methods that offer little recourse if the tickets end up being fake. Avoid:
- Wire transfers – Cannot get reversed once sent
- Gift cards – Hard to prove fraud occurred
- Cash payments – No paper trail
Use credit cards when possible so you can dispute the charges if needed. Or use a payment platform like PayPal that offers buyer protection.
Confirm Details of E-Tickets
If you purchase e-tickets, be sure to look over the details closely. Some signs that electronic tickets may be fake include:
- Lack of seat or row numbers
- Misspellings in the venue or event name
- Incorrect date or time of event
- Missing ticket codes or barcodes
Cross-reference the details on the e-ticket with information on the venue’s website or printed tickets.
Beware of Scams
Watch out for common ticket scams like:
- Overpayment – Buyer sends payment, gets told they sent too much and to wire back the overage.
- Third-party offers – After buying from one seller, another seller contacts with better seats.
- Fake websites – Scammers create lookalike websites of real ticketing platforms.
Also be wary if a seller avoids using invoices, contracts, escrow services, or other protections.
Inspect Physical Tickets
If you buy paper tickets, inspect them closely for signs of being counterfeit like:
- Generic stock paper instead of official cardstock
- Lack of perforated edges
- Missing official branding or logos
- No seat numbers printed
- Misspelled words or blurred text
Compare the physical tickets to images online of what the real tickets look like.
Get Tickets Early
Purchasing tickets as early as possible gives you the widest selection of legit ticket sources to buy from. As an event nears, scammers know people are scrambling for last minute tickets and take advantage.
Don’t Share Ticket Images Online
Posting photos of your tickets on social media or other public places makes it easier for scammers to create realistic looking fakes.
What If You Buy Fake Tickets?
If you end up with fake tickets, don’t panic. Take the following steps:
- Contact the seller/marketplace immediately
- Dispute the charges if you paid by credit card
- File complaints with agencies like the Better Business Bureau
- Leave reviews warning others about the experience
- Report the seller to event organizers and anti-fraud authorities
You may at least get your money back. And you’ll help prevent the seller from scamming someone else next time.
Conclusion
While buying tickets online comes with risks, you can avoid fake tickets by being an informed buyer. Only use reputable platforms, pay with protected methods, confirm details, watch for scams, and inspect physical tickets. If you still end up with invalid tickets, take action to get your money back and report the fraud.
Protecting yourself from ticket scams takes some diligence. But if you enter each ticket purchase carefully and cautiously, you can feel confident you’ll get legit tickets and have an amazing time at the big event.