If attending the biggest sporting events, festivals and concerts is a big part of your vacation plans, it can be a bummer to find out that the ticket deal you scored is a scam. After all, you are making a hefty investment to be there, which you know after budgeting out your vacation. And it can really burst your bubble when the tickets are all sold out.
Well, ticket scams are more common than you realize. According to a report from CNBC, roughly 12% of American adults reported having bought a concert ticket that was, in fact, a scam. The scams happen when the ticket prices are through the roof, or the tickets have sold out.
Here is what you can do to help not fall victim to ticket scammers.
How Do Ticket Scams Work?
Scammers take advantage of enthusiastic fans keen on seeing their favorite singer or band. Fans are desperate to get inside and grow impatient, terrified that they may not get in. This creates a sense of urgency, which works in the scammer’s favor.
It gives them the perfect opportunity to sell you a fake ticket that won’t get accepted at the event.
Simply put, scammers use tickets as bait to steal your personal identifiable information and cash. Therefore, they tend to sell fake tickets. Or, you could also be purchasing a ticket online, but you may never obtain it.
These scams are highly prevalent for popular plays, sporting events and concerts due to the event selling out.
How to Avoid Buying Fake Tickets?
To help avoid getting conned, find out what the actual ticket looks like. It may be tricky to tell a fake ticket apart from the real ticket but be sure to look at the details.
Do not buy a ticket that doesn’t include the seat, row and block details. You can then confirm with the venue.
If someone contacts you first about selling tickets, has a price too good to be true and has a very low follower count, this is most likely a scam.
Scammers prey on your desperation and are offering you the impossible. So don’t take the bait.
Scammers know that family vacations are expensive. Seeing a promotion for five tickets at the price of one can end up hurting your finances rather than helping them.
Stay out of debt before, during and even after your event or vacation by researching the seller.
Lastly, check if the seller has any negative feedback and be sure the payment page is secure. Secured pages tend to have a padlock in their address bar, which can come in handy when you are spending a big sum.
Where to Report Ticket Scams?
There are a couple of options at your disposal when it comes to reporting a ticket scam. If you met the seller in person, and you know what they look like, then feel free to file a local police report.
If you purchased these tickets online, but never received them or used them, then talk to a state consumer protection office.
You can also rely on the Online Complaint Assistant with the Federal Trade Commission. For those who used their credit card to make a purchase, you can report this issue to the card company.
You can dispute the charge. This means that the transaction that happened may be reversed.
How to Recover from a Ticket Scam?
Scammers typically ask you to issue the payment in ways that can make it difficult for you to get your cash back.
That’s why using options like PayPal can make for a more practical approach. But, if you didn’t, then the sooner you act, the better. Report the scam as soon as possible to try to get a refund.
If you believe your personal information has been compromised by a ticket scam, then investing in an identity theft protection plan is a good idea.
It can protect your sensitive information and credit. Identity theft and credit protection services are here to bring security and peace of mind.
Now that you know how to help take better care of your personal information and make more reliable ticket purchases, you can enjoy your concert stress-free.
Watch our video below for more on ticket scams!