BOISE, Idaho — Football season is in full swing, and fans hoping to get the best seats or their favorite team's gear need to be on the lookout for scams. From college football to the NFL, the Better Business Bureau is helping fans keep their money safe during the season.
If you're looking to grab tickets, make sure you're dealing with trustworthy businesses and ticket brokers. There are countless ways for people to find tickets and connect with online marketplaces, ticket sellers and re-sellers. Unfortunately, some of them are rip-offs, and it isn't always clear how to tell if a ticket is fake. Just last year, BBB received hundreds of reports on the BBB Scam Tracker about ticket scams.
Make sure you're getting the real deal by buying directly from the venue whenever possible. Many official ticket sales agents now offer secondary sales options as well. Consider your source and know the difference between a professional ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited re-seller), a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller), and a scammer selling fake tickets.
You should always check out the seller/broker. Look them up on the BBB website to find what other customers have experienced. If you're buying online, purchase only from vendors you know and trust. Look for a lock symbol in the web address to indicate a secure purchasing system. Don't click links through emails or online ads because it's easy for scammers to create a web address similar to a well-known company.
If you're looking for team gear online, you'll likely come across a site that promises great deals and fast shipping. BBB recommends staying wary of those sites, especially if the online store or boutique is one you haven't heard of before. While the deals can be enticing, they can also be too good to be true and you can lose your money. If the price of an item is significantly less than what it is on other well-known retail sites, this is a red flag that indicates a possible scam.
For more resources to help you avoid being scammed, head to the BBB website here.
