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Imagine you go to buy tickets for an upcoming concert on the artist’s website and the show is nearly sold out, with only the most expensive tickets remaining. Determined to find tickets at a fair price, you head over to Facebook to look. After putting out a request for spare tickets in a public chat group, you are delighted to see several responses, many with suspiciously similar emotional hooks such as family emergencies. Realizing those replies seem like red flags, you ignore them. Then you stumble upon a seller who looks trustworthy. A Facebook profile photo of a man lovingly holding what seems like his two daughters. The seats are great, and the tickets are affordable. After messaging the seller and providing your contact information, you pay for the tickets via PayPal Friends and Family per his request. The tickets never arrive, and his profile has been deleted. Now you are down $300 and missed the opportunity to see one of your favorite artists perform live.
Concert ticket scams are a growing problem.
According to a recent Better Business Bureau article, the BBB scam tracker has received numerous reports of fake tickets to real events or events that never happened. Whether you want to catch a show outside of Wisconsin or at local venues such as the Fiserv Forum or Pabst Theater, it is always important to follow safe buying practices. The same goes for local festivals such as your county fair.
Tips on How to Not Get Scammed Buying Tickets
Here are some tips to help you avoid ticket buying scams and protect your personal and financial information:
- Buy tickets at the venue’s box office or authorized brokers and third-party sellers.
- View the consumer protection agency website to view complaints against ticket sellers.
- Research online for negative reviews about the seller using their name and contact information with phrases such as “fake tickets” or “ticket scams.”
- Verify the correct date and time on the tickets before buying them. Also, make sure the section and seat numbers exist at the venue and the event / venue name is correct.
- When purchasing, have the seller meet you in person at a public place and ask for proof of purchase.
- Never wire money, send cryptocurrency or use a person-to-person payment process to pay ticket sellers or pay with a prepaid money card.
- Always research events to confirm they are real.
How to Report Concert Ticket Scams
If you have been a victim of a concert ticket scam, there are several actions you can take.
- Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Contact Wisconsin’s consumer protection office.
- File a complaint on the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker.
- Report the scam to your bank or credit card company and dispute the charge if you paid with a card.
Don’t fall victim to a ticket selling scam, even if a seller’s profile picture looks trustworthy. If the deal is too good to be true, chances are that it is. Learn more ways to protect yourself and your finances against fraud by visiting our Fraud Information page.
