TUCSON, Ariz. — Buying tickets to an upcoming event can be easy, but it can also become complicated especially if you fall victim to a fake seller both online and in person. When fans are looking forward to their favorite concert of big game, the first thing most of them do is shop online. But beware if that hot ticket is hard to get -- determined fans might seek out more expensive ways to get in.
Irene Manzanedo with the Business Bureau says there are some ways to avoid the pitfalls of fraudulent ticket sales. Just when you think you have the real thing, you might show up at your event and end up with a fake ticket.
"When you purchase online make sure that the website is secure number one. The way to do that is on the web address bar check to see if it says 'https' to make sure that its secure. Don't buy anything from street vendors, don't buy from someone selling outside of the venue or the street corner," Manzanedo said.
Another thing to remember is when you buy from third party sellers or any seller you should always use your credit card. When it comes to Craigslist and Facebook, the BBB says you should pass when making a buy.
"If you choose to use a third party vendor make sure you understand the terms and conditions make sure is there a refund. Also check to see if the vendor is a part of the national ticket broker association because those vendors typically offer a 200 percent money back guarantee," she said.
A recent warning from the FBI says that consumers should never post pictures of event tickets on social media. That's where scammers can create a ticket using the barcode on the picture and resell it online. They also want consumers to protect ticket bar codes the the same way they would protect a credit card number.
At the end of the day doing your research is the best line of defense.
