Going to a concert can be an exciting and memorable experience. However, with the rise of ticket scams and counterfeit tickets, it’s important to verify your concert tickets to ensure they are authentic before heading to the show.
Why should I verify my concert tickets?
There are a few key reasons you’ll want to verify your concert tickets before the show:
- Avoid ticket scams – Fake tickets are commonplace online and can leave you out of luck on concert day.
- Confirm authenticity – Verifying tickets ensures they are official passes issued by the venue or promoter.
- Check seat location – You’ll want to double check where your seats are located before getting to the venue.
- Review ticket terms – Verify any age restrictions, opening acts, doors time and other ticket stipulations.
Taking the time to verify tickets is a necessary step to ensure your concert plans go off without a hitch.
How can I tell if a concert ticket is fake?
Watch out for these common indicators that a concert ticket may be fake or counterfeit:
- Misspellings or typos – Fake tickets often have sloppy text and details.
- Blurred or pixelated barcodes – Authentic barcodes will be crisp and clear.
- Lack of holograms or watermarks – Many official tickets have security features like holograms.
- Not from official source – Tickets should come directly from the artist, venue or authorized seller.
- Too good to be true – Extremely low prices are a clear red flag.
- Generic stock images – Fake tickets will often lack unique imagery.
Trust your instinct if a concert ticket looks suspicious or unofficial in any way. Purchasing from unauthorized sources greatly increases your risk of getting counterfeit tickets.
How can I verify paper concert tickets?
If you purchased traditional paper tickets, here are some tips for verifying they are legitimate:
- Examine overall quality – Authentic tickets are printed on high-quality cardstock.
- Check for official seals – Venues and promoters place hologram seals on real tickets.
- Match ticket numbers – Ticket numbers should match across both stub and main ticket.
- Read fine print – Official policy details are included on genuine tickets.
- Call the box office – You can have the box office confirm ticket numbers and seats.
Scrutinizing paper tickets closely under good lighting can reveal signs of counterfeiting. If any aspects seem strange, reach out to the venue or ticket seller for assistance.
How can I verify mobile concert tickets?
For mobile concert tickets, you’ll need to verify the digital pass stored on your phone. Here are tips for validating mobile tickets:
- Purchase via official apps – Use only trusted apps like Ticketmaster or AXS to buy.
- Check seller ratings – Closely review seller profiles before purchasing mobile tickets.
- Save to your wallet – Storing tickets in your phone’s digital wallet adds an extra layer of security.
- Access via cellular – Mobile tickets usually require accessing them over cellular data when at the event.
- Bring a printout – For backup, print out your mobile ticket barcode page.
Following proper protocol for transferring mobile tickets to your phone and storing them in a digital wallet significantly reduces your risk of fraud.
How can I verify e-tickets for concerts?
E-tickets you access online or via email require a different approach to verification. Here is how to check e-tickets before a show:
- Carefully read emails – Confirm e-tickets come directly from the official source.
- Check order details – Cross-reference order numbers, seat locations and ticket quantities.
- Verify barcodes – Barcodes should be sharp and distortion-free when viewing e-tickets.
- Look for confirmation page – Most e-tickets let you access a confirmation webpage for verification.
- Contact seller with issues – If an e-ticket seems suspicious, reach out to the seller for assistance.
Be wary of e-tickets delivered from unofficial sellers or appearing altered in any way. Legitimate sellers will help resolve any verification issues.
Who can I contact for help verifying tickets?
If you have doubts about your concert tickets, there are a few places you can turn to for help:
- Box office – Get in touch with the official box office for the venue.
- Ticket seller – Reach out to the original ticket outlet you purchased from.
- Artist fan club – If you bought from an artist fan club, contact them.
- Ticket exchanges – Contact the ticket exchange platform if reselling.
- Ticket broker – For resale sites, inquire with their customer service.
Providing your order number, ticket numbers and any other useful details can help these sources quickly verify your ticket authenticity. Their trained staff can spot fake tickets and resolve any issues.
What other concert ticket verification tips are helpful?
Keep these additional pointers in mind to confirm your tickets are genuine:
- Purchase early – Buying tickets the minute sales begin reduces scams.
- Understand your source – Only use trusted venues, artists and authorized sellers.
- Beware discounts – Extremely discounted tickets should raise suspicions.
- Think twice reselling – Reselling opens you to potential scams on both ends.
- Trust your instincts – Don’t ignore red flags even over minor details.
- Arrive early – Try entering the venue early in case last minute issues arise.
While scammers get craftier by the day, common sense and caution remain your best defenses. Do your homework on ticket sources and don’t get fooled by unbelievable deals.
What are the risks of not verifying concert tickets?
If you fail to take the time to properly verify concert tickets, here are some of the risks to be aware of:
- Getting turned away – Venues will reject fake or duplicated tickets.
- Buying stolen seats – Some scammers resell tickets they don’t actually own.
- No recourse for fakes – You’ll lose your money with no compensation if duped.
- Paying more later – You may have to purchase authentic last minute tickets.
- Missing the show – The worst case is you paid but are unable to get in.
A little paranoia and caution upfront when purchasing tickets pays off. Avoid losing your concert money and a night of fun by making ticket verification a priority.
Conclusion
Verifying concert tickets is a quick and easy process that provides great peace of mind. Carefully inspecting paper tickets, confirming mobile pass authenticity and scrutinizing e-ticket details can weed out scams. If any concerns arise, be proactive in reaching out for assistance sooner rather than later. With a few prudent steps, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the show with confidence.
