Buying tickets to the big game? Don't get scammed

Securing tickets to popular sporting events and concerts can be difficult and competitive.

Thanks to the internet, there are countless ways for consumers to find tickets and connect with online marketplaces, ticket sellers and resellers. Unfortunately, some are rip-offs, and it's unclear how to tell if a ticket is fake.

Last year the Better Business Bureau received over 140 reports on BBB Scam Tracker about ticket scams related to sporting events, concerts, theater and more.

One West Virginia consumer reported to the BBB Scam Tracker that they were contacted through a Facebook group by someone claiming to be a verified ticket seller.

“I was reassured that the tickets were legitimate and would be transferred through Ticketmaster after payment. After I sent $1,380, I was told there was a problem and asked to send additional money for a transfer fee. When I refused and asked for my tickets, they were never sent. I later realized the entire transaction was a scam.”

BBB warns consumers to be smart when searching for and purchasing tickets to ensure they purchase from a trustworthy source. BBB and the National Association of Ticket Brokers are working to raise awareness and educate fans about the smartest ways to buy tickets on the secondary resale market.

Here are some tips for buying tickets:

—Purchase from the venue whenever possible. Many official ticket sales agents now offer secondary sales options as well.

—Consider your source. Know the difference between a professional ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited reseller), a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller) and a scammer selling fake tickets.

—Sign up for alerts. Many venues and official ticket platforms offer email or app notifications for presales, special offers or alerts when tickets become available. That can help you avoid the need to purchase from unverified resellers.

—Check out the seller/broker. Look them up on www.BBB.org to learn what other customers have experienced. Check to see if they are a member of the NATB. NATB members offer a 200% purchase guarantee on tickets. Look up the seller on www.VerifiedTicketSource.com to confirm you are buying from a NATB-member resale company.

—Buy only from trusted vendors. Buy online only from vendors you know and trust. Look for the lock symbol in the web address to indicate a secure purchasing system. Don’t click through emails or online ads. A common ticket scam trick is to create a web address that is similar to a well-known company.

—Consider ticket insurance. For high-cost tickets, purchasing ticket insurance can help protect you if the event is canceled or rescheduled. Ensure the insurance terms are clear and from a legitimate provider.

—Know the refund policy. You should only purchase tickets from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction. Sellers should disclose to the purchaser, before purchase, the location of the seats represented by the tickets, either orally or by reference to a seating chart, and if the tickets are not available for immediate access to the purchaser, sellers should disclose when the tickets will ship or be available for pickup.

—Use payment methods that come with protection. Always use a credit card so you have some recourse if the tickets are not as promised. Debit cards, wire transfers or cash transactions are risky. If the tickets are fraudulent, you won’t be able to get your money back.

—Be wary of advertisements. When you search the web for online tickets, advertisements for cheap tickets will often appear. Use good judgment. Some ads will be ticket scams, especially if the prices are low.

—If you’re unsure, verify your tickets. Pay a visit to the arena where the event will be held. Present your ticket to Will Call (customer service), and they can verify if your ticket is legitimate and show you how to tell if it is fake.