With online ticket purchases becoming increasingly common, it’s important to be able to distinguish real emails from Ticketmaster from fraudulent ones. There are a few key things to look for when evaluating the authenticity of a Ticketmaster email.
Check the sender address
The first thing to check is the sender email address. Legitimate Ticketmaster emails will always come from an official Ticketmaster domain such as @ticketmaster.com, @ticketmaster.ca, etc. Be wary of emails that come from odd addresses or have spelling mistakes in the domain name.
Look for your customer information
Real Ticketmaster emails will address you by name and include details like your order number, event name and date, seat locations, etc. Scam emails rarely contain specific customer information. Carefully review the email contents to ensure it contains accurate details about your purchase and account.
Verify the links
Never click directly on links in an unsolicited email without verifying them first. Hover over each link to check where it reroutes. Legitimate Ticketmaster links should always go to official Ticketmaster domains. Be especially cautious of shortened URLs.
Check for poor spelling and grammar
While the occasional typo can happen, fraudulent emails often contain multiple spelling, grammar and formatting errors. Real emails from large corporations like Ticketmaster will be professionally written. Watch for awkward phrasing, bad punctuation, grammatical mistakes and other errors.
Look for threats or urgent demands
Scammers will often use threatening language or a false sense of urgency to trick users. Real Ticketmaster emails won’t tell you that you only have 24 hours to complete an action or that your account will be frozen. Be wary if an email seems overly pushy or threatening without due cause.
Verify email relevance
Always think about whether an email makes sense based on your previous Ticketmaster activity. For example, you wouldn’t get an email about ticket delivery for an event you never bought tickets to. Take a few extra moments to confirm the email contents are relevant to you.
Check for poor image quality
Logos and branding images in scam emails are frequently blurry, low-resolution or slightly altered from the real deal. Genuine Ticketmaster emails will use high-quality images that match those on their official website.
Watch for requests for sensitive information
Ticketmaster will never ask for sensitive information like your social security number or banking details over email. If an email asks you to verify personal account details, it’s likely a scam attempt to steal your personal data.
Contact Ticketmaster support if unsure
If an email appears questionable but you’re still not certain, reach out directly to Ticketmaster’s customer service team for verification. You can find official contact options on the Ticketmaster website. Never respond to the questionable email itself.
Enable two-factor authentication
For improved email security, enable two-factor authentication on your Ticketmaster account. This adds a second step of verification to protect your account from unauthorized access. Two-factor authentication makes falling for phishing scams less likely.
Report scam emails
If you receive an email you believe to be fraudulent, report it. Forward scam emails to [email protected] so Ticketmaster can investigate them. You should also report the email to the Anti-Phishing Working Group to help identify new phishing tactics.
Keep software up to date
Using outdated software makes you more vulnerable to phishing scams and malware. Update your operating system, antivirus program, browser and other software frequently to ensure you have the latest security protections enabled.
Check for inconsistencies
Phishing emails will often have small inconsistencies that don’t match up. Closely compare the details in the email to information on your Ticketmaster account and order history. Watch for things like slightly different event names, dates or seat numbers that don’t align.
Look at the formality
Legitimate Ticketmaster emails tend to use a relatively formal tone and style. Scam emails sometimes contain informal language, overly familiar greetings (e.g. “Hello dear”) or other stylistic red flags.
Verify unexpected changes
If an email claims your event was postponed, canceled, relocated or otherwise changed, confirm it on the Ticketmaster website before taking any action. Don’t just trust an unexpected change stated in an email without verifying it first.
Watch for poorly customized details
While scam emails may contain some tailored details, they won’t get everything right. Notice if your name is spelled wrong or if other personal details don’t quite match up to trick you into trusting the message.
Check the tone
Scam Ticketmaster emails often have an urgent or threatening tone designed to frighten you into action. Real emails tend to use a more neutral, customer service-oriented tone.
Beware of opening attachments
Never open an attachment from a questionable email, as it could contain malware. Legitimate Ticketmaster emails rarely include attachments. Be extra cautious of compressed files like .zip attachments commonly used to distribute viruses.
Watch for requests to pay outside Ticketmaster
Scammers may instruct you to pay for ticket orders outside of Ticketmaster’s official payment system to steal your financial details. Ticketmaster will always handle payments directly through their secure channels.
By taking a few extra moments to thoroughly evaluate any emails claiming to be from Ticketmaster, you can identify and avoid malicious phishing attempts. Following secure email habits is crucial to keeping your personal information and accounts safe. When in doubt, reach out to Ticketmaster customer support directly to confirm an email’s legitimacy.