It’s really disappointing when you miss out on getting concert tickets that you were excited about. But it’s even worse if you get scammed and someone steals your personal information. The worst situation is when both things happen together. From January 2022 to February 2023, about 16,000 people were tricked by ticket scams, according to CNET.
Now, as the pandemic becomes less of a worry and spring arrives, many of us are eager to go out and enjoy big events. From Coachella and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour to Major League Baseball games, scammers are paying attention and ready to trick people. Here are some tips to help you buy tickets safely and avoid getting scammed.
Don’t let scammers play on your emotions
Scammers are really good at messing with your emotions. The smartest ones focus on big events that sell out quickly because they know people will rush to find “deals” or secure tickets without thinking carefully. Be extra careful when buying tickets for these events. If you see a deal that seems too good to be true—like a seller offering cheap tickets because of a “family emergency”—it’s probably a scam.
If you don’t want to pass up the offer, test the seller first. Ask them to sell the tickets using PayPal goods and services instead of “friends and family.” This option protects both buyers and sellers from fraud. Go ahead and ask—you’ll see.
If the seller refuses and insists on using a less secure payment method like Zelle, Venmo, or CashApp, it’s a big red flag. They’re likely trying to scam you. Trust your gut and walk away.
Never buy tickets from a sponsored link
Sponsored links often appear at the top of Google search results because someone paid for them, not because they’re trustworthy. Many fake ticket websites show up in these ads. Even if the link looks like it’s for a real site like StubHub or Ticketmaster, think twice before clicking it to buy event tickets.
Instead, type the website’s address into your browser yourself or scroll down to find an official result. Always double-check the URL to make sure it’s the real site. Otherwise, you might end up entering your Ticketmaster username, password, and credit card information on a fake website.
The safest way to avoid scams—but also the most expensive—is to buy tickets directly from the official venue or their approved ticket seller. If you’re buying resale tickets (even though they’re often more expensive), stick with trusted names like StubHub, SeatGeek, Razorgator, or Ticket Liquidator.
If you come across a website you don’t recognize, check if they’re a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB). You can verify this by visiting their website. The NATB works with the Better Business Bureau, and its members must follow a customer protection policy or be registered with the organization.
Double-check the details
Before you enter your credit card information, make sure the tickets you’re buying are real. Most venues have a seating map online. Check that the seats on the tickets actually exist on the map and that the price and details match up with what the venue offers.
Scammers can fake this, but they might not take the time to ensure seats like “Row 17-B” are real. Also, if the venue uses digital tickets (as most do) but someone is selling paper tickets—or the other way around—that’s a warning sign.
Finally, always use a credit card to buy tickets. If you end up getting scammed, the credit card company can help you by canceling the charge when you report the issue.
What to do if you already bought fake tickets
Getting scammed hurts, and your options may be limited. But the first thing you should do is report the scam. This helps others avoid the same trap and might stop scammers from trying it again.
Next, contact your bank to see if they can reverse the charge. If you used a credit card, file a fraud report with your credit card company. You might also need to get a new credit card number to protect yourself.
If you’re worried about the personal information you shared with the scammer, file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This can help you protect your identity and take further steps if needed.