Viagogo is an online ticket marketplace that allows people to buy and sell tickets for live events. It’s a popular site for finding tickets, especially for sold out or high demand events where tickets are scarce. However, there are some concerns about potentially fake or invalid tickets being sold on Viagogo. Let’s take a closer look at the risk of fake tickets on Viagogo and what buyers should watch out for.
What is Viagogo?
Viagogo is a Swiss-based online marketplace that was founded in 2006. It specializes in the resale of live event tickets like concerts, sports games, and theater shows. Sellers can list tickets for sale and buyers can search for and purchase the tickets they need.
Some key things to know about Viagogo:
– It’s an open marketplace, so anyone can sell tickets. Tickets are resold by individual sellers rather than the official source.
– Prices are set by sellers, which means they are often higher than the original face value of the ticket. Viagogo charges sellers fees and also makes money by charging buyers a booking fee.
– It operates globally, with localized sites targeting over 60 countries. Buyers and sellers may be located anywhere in the world.
– It offers buyer guarantees if tickets end up being invalid. Refunds or replacement tickets can be provided.
The open marketplace model provides a lot of options for buyers looking for sold out tickets. But it also opens up the risk of fake or invalid tickets if sellers aren’t completely honest about what they’re selling.
Are there fake tickets being sold on Viagogo?
Unfortunately, yes some fake tickets do get listed and sold on Viagogo. Here are some examples of fake or invalid tickets being sold:
– Tickets that have already been used or reported lost/stolen. The original buyer used the ticket then illegally resold it.
– Counterfeit or duplicated copies of real tickets. Scammers manufacture fake ticket stock to resemble a real ticket.
– Tickets for wrong dates, seats, venues etc. Sellers mislead buyers about what they are buying.
– Speculative listings by sellers who don’t yet have the tickets in hand. For hot events, tickets get listed without any guarantee they can be fulfilled.
– Listings by scalpers cancelled or voided by event organizers. Sometimes the original ticket source deems a 3rd party reseller unauthorized and cancels the ticket.
While many tickets on Viagogo are legitimate, these situations show how false or invalid tickets can end up being offered for sale. Intentionally selling fake tickets is fraudulent, but even well-meaning sellers can mistakenly sell tickets that end up being invalid if they were scammed on the original purchase.
How can you spot fake tickets on Viagogo?
When browsing listings and making purchases, here are some red flags to watch out for:
– Price is substantially lower than market value. An absurdly low price is suspicious.
– Seller has no reviews or ratings. Unrated sellers are higher risk.
– Details are vague about seat numbers, venue, etc.
– Seller unwilling to provide evidence like receipts or proof of purchase.
– Seller presses for direct bank transfer or cash payment. Credit cards give buyers protections.
– Communication feels “off” – broken English, text speak, vague answers.
– Seller stalls when asked for additional ticket verification.
– Ticket delivery date is dangerously close to event date.
– Ticket delivery method is email vs. secure post. Harder to verify and track email tickets.
– Listing seems too good to be true for a high demand, sold out event.
While not definitive signs on their own, these suspicious signals suggest the tickets could potentially be fake.
How prevalent is fake ticket fraud on Viagogo?
It’s hard to put an exact number on how many fake tickets get sold through Viagogo. The company does not provide public data on fraud rates or ticket authenticity disputes. However, here are some indicators that show it is a real issue buyers face:
– Viagogo has an entire Fraud Prevention department dedicated to fighting fake ticket sales. This shows it’s a notable problem.
– There are numerous news reports, articles, and customer complaints about purchasing fake tickets on Viagogo.
– Viagogo faces legal action and restrictions in some markets over fake ticket concerns. They’ve been sued or fined in multiple countries.
– Various event organizers and rights owners have publicly criticized Viagogo for fake ticket activity happening on their site that damages the event’s reputation.
– A 2018 undercover investigation by a national consumer program found 20% of Viagogo tickets purchased were potentially invalid or fraudulent.
So while we can’t put an exact figure on it, there are significant signs that millions of dollars worth of fake tickets are sold through Viagogo each year. Buyers do need to be cautious and watch for fraud when using the platform.
Does Viagogo successfully prevent fake ticket sales?
Viagogo does invest considerably in fraud prevention measures and customer protections from fake tickets. However, they have still received a lot of criticism over how effectively these measures work. Here are some steps they take:
– Buyer guarantee – Refunds or replacement tickets if tickets are invalid or non-transferable.
– Security features on their platform to detect suspicious sellers or sales.
– Require sellers to listregistration references to confirm identity.
– Phone verification of some high risk sellers.
– Requiring credit card payments which allow chargeback fraud disputes. This also builds a transaction record.
– Offering the option for buyers to collect tickets directly at the venue with verification processes.
– Destroying proven counterfeits when identified.
However, critics argue these measures still leave loopholes where fake tickets get through. Some key concerns raised include:
– Burdensome process for buyers to actually claim refunds for invalid tickets.
– No thorough vetting of sellers allowed to list and price tickets in the first place.
– Poor communication to buyers when issues arise leading up to an event.
– Inability to completely halt speculative ticket listings or verified fraudsters from continuing activity.
– Lack of transparency around internal data on fake ticket sales occurring.
– Failure to leverage current technology like secure mobile ticket delivery to counter fraud.
So Viagogo does employ some protections against fake tickets, but further change is likely needed to strengthen their fraud prevention based on the criticism they receive.
What are the risks of buying fake tickets?
Beyond losing the money you paid for the tickets, there are some other risks buyers face if they end up with fake tickets unknowingly:
– Being denied entry. Fake tickets will fail verification at the door and you can’t get into the event.
– Legal trouble if knowingly using counterfeit tickets. Most places have laws against ticket forgery that can lead to fines or prosecution.
– Wasted expenses if you’ve already traveled for the event or made other plans that can’t be changed.
– Missing a special event you were excited to attend and losing the chance to make memories.
– Feelings of disappointment, anger, embarrassment, stress and frustration.
– Knock-off effects like missed flights, forfeited hotel deposits, lost wages from missed work, and other issues.
– Invalid tickets often can’t be resold if discovered beforehand, so you lose any chance to recoup costs.
– Hassle of trying to get refunds/compensation and proving you were defrauded.
The risks go beyond just the ticket cost. Fake tickets can ruin plans, lead to financial issues, and cause emotional distress.
How can you avoid buying fake tickets on Viagogo?
While Viagogo does bear responsibility for doing more to stop fake ticket sales, buyers should also take precautions to protect themselves:
– Research sellers thoroughly – Review all ratings, feedback, history, location, and other details provided.
– Ask questions – Request additional proof, photos, receipts, or documentation about the tickets.
– Avoid high risk sellers – Don’t buy from unverified sellers or brand new accounts.
– Use buyer protections – Only pay with credit card and use buyer guarantees when offered.
– Confirm details – Double check ticket specifics like seat numbers, spellings, restrictions.
– Buy early – Fake tickets more likely for last minute, sold out events. Shop early.
– Shop around – Check other resellers and exchanges as comparison.
– Use instincts – Don’t ignore red flags or warning signs during the process.
– Read policies – Understand refund, delivery, and fraud liability rules for issues.
– Pay safely – Avoid direct bank transfers which offer no fraud recourse.
Staying vigilant for warning signs and using common sense precautions can help buyers avoid becoming victims of ticket scams on sites like Viagogo.
Are other ticket resale sites better than Viagogo?
Viagogo is certainly not the only place where people run the risk of encountering fake tickets for sale online. However, there are some other major ticket resale marketplaces that have better reputations when it comes to valid tickets and fraud prevention.
**StubHub**
StubHub is arguably Viagogo’s biggest competitor in the ticket resale marketplace sector. They are a US company owned by eBay and have a stronger track record when it comes to fake ticket issues through:
– Rigorous vetting of sellers before allowing them onto the platform.
– No speculative ticket sale listings allowed. Sellers must have tickets in-hand.
– Clear communication to buyers around ticket delivery leading up to events.
– Robust fraud detection technology and human review of high risk transactions.
– Providing refunds via FanProtect Guarantee program for invalid tickets.
**Vivid Seats**
Vivid Seats is another large US-based ticket marketplace that competes with Viagogo. They use fraud prevention tools such as:
– AI technology to monitor suspicious account and transaction activity.
– Limiting sellers to accept only credit card payments, which build accountability.
– A 100% Buyer Guarantee to reimburse invalid tickets.
– Using geolocation to flag high risk international sellers.
– Screening sellers to ensure they are authorized resellers.
**Twickets**
Twickets is a UK-based resale platform that focuses on music events and concerts. They take extra steps to ensure ticket validity, including:
– Secure ticket transfer where the ticket barcode can only be used once.
– No allowing sales above original face value price.
– Requiring users connect directly to their social media profiles for identity verification.
– Ensuring the event organizers endorse them as authorized reseller.
So while fakes can appear on any secondary market, other major players do tend to get better reviews than Viagogo when it comes to ticket validity protections.
Should you avoid Viagogo altogether?
Due to the risks identified around potentially buying fake tickets, some consumer groups argue Viagogo should be avoided as a ticket source. Major artists like Ed Sheeran have publicly told fans not to use the site.
However, Viagogo can also still be fine to purchase from in some cases. It comes down to the buyer being smart and cautious. Before buying tickets on Viagogo, buyers should ask themselves:
– Are there many other ticket options still available for this event?
– How soon before the event date is it? Last minute buys are riskier.
– How reputable, rated, and responsive is the specific seller I’m considering?
– What buyer protections are offered if the tickets turn out invalid?
– Are there any worrying signs or red flags about the listing details or communications?
If alternatives are scarce, delivery timing is tight, the seller is unverifiable, there are limited protections, and your gut says something seems off, avoid the purchase.
But if you research the seller, give yourself time for issues to be corrected before the event, use fraud prevention protections, and the details check out, Viagogo could still be a valid option in some cases, even if requiring more caution. While fake tickets are a problem to watch for, some Viagogo tickets are legitimate.
Are tighter regulations around Viagogo needed?
To better protect consumers from the risk of fake ticket scams, many argue tighter rules and enforcement actions against Viagogo are needed by regulators:
– Require more transparent reporting of fraud rates and disclosure of internal anti-fraud measures. This would give a clearer picture of the fake ticket problem.
– Impose large fines when evidence of fraudulent tickets is found as punishment and deterrent.
– Obligate better seller vetting and limiting speculative or unverifiable ticket listings.
– Create faster resolution processes for buyers left with invalid tickets close to event dates.
– Restrict certain high risk payment methods that lack buyer protections.
– Enhance identity checks like linking to verified social media accounts.
– Force Viagogo to comply with limits on ticket markup over face value. Some locations have introduced such rules.
– Bar Viagogo entirely as an unauthorized seller due to systematic fraud – some countries have issued such bans.
– Require listings to clarify tickets were not sourced directly from event organizers or the primary market.
Though adding costs, tighter regulation on Viagogo and other secondary ticket marketplaces could help curb the fake ticket problem. But the sites argue this limits legitimate ticket access and commerce. The right balance is debated.
Conclusion
In summary, buying tickets on Viagogo does carry a heightened risk of encountering fake or invalid tickets compared to other sources. This is due to the open marketplace model with limited seller vetting. While Viagogo does employ some fraud prevention measures, the number of fake tickets still being sold through the platform indicates significant improvement is needed. When considering Viagogo, buyers should thoroughly research sellers, watch for warning signs, and use common sense precautions. Though some tickets on Viagogo are legitimate, consumers must be vigilant for fraud. Tighter regulation may also be warranted to force Viagogo and similar secondary marketplaces to take the issue of fake tickets more seriously.