Purchasing tickets from Ticketmaster can be a great way to get access to concerts, sporting events, theater shows and more. However, with any popular ticket seller, scammers try to take advantage of eager fans looking for tickets. Ticket scams are common on sites like Ticketmaster where high demand and limited supply create opportunities for scammers to trick buyers. Being aware of the signs of a scam can help you avoid losing money or personal information to fraudulent sellers. Here are some tips on how to identify if a ticket seller on Ticketmaster is legitimate or a scammer.
Look out for prices that are too good to be true
One of the most telltale signs of a ticket scam on Ticketmaster is a price that seems too good to be true. Scammers will often list tickets at absurdly low prices compared to their market value in order to lure unsuspecting buyers. If you see floor seats to a Beyonce concert going for $50 when most other similar tickets are listed for $250 or more, this is a red flag. Similarly, if you find front row seats to big game priced at face value when the event has been sold out for months, that’s likely a scam. Real Ticketmaster tickets will be competitively and realistically priced according to demand. Extremely low prices are almost always a scam.
Research the seller
When buying tickets on Ticketmaster from a third party seller, do your research on the seller first. Ticketmaster will provide information on the seller including a star rating, number of tickets sold, and join date. A brand new seller with no reviews selling hard-to-get tickets is very risky. Search for reviews of the seller online to see if others have reported positive or negative experiences. Reputable sellers will have information available about their business and contact information. Be very wary of any sellers that seem anonymous with no track record.
Watch for fake seller profiles
Scammers often create fake profiles on Ticketmaster to appear as credible sellers. Look out for seller profiles that seem impersonal, vague or fishy. Profiles with stock images instead of real photos, or names that seem fake (“Ticket Seller123”) are red flags. Legitimate Ticketmaster sellers will have detailed, professional looking profiles. Poor spelling and grammar mistakes on a seller profile are also often a giveaway of a scammer.
Beware of requests to pay outside of Ticketmaster
Real Ticketmaster sellers will always direct you to purchase tickets through the official Ticketmaster checkout process. Scammers will often ask you to pay through third party services like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or cryptocurrency instead. This is against Ticketmaster policy and a sign of fraud. Never pay a Ticketmaster seller directly – always use the Ticketmaster checkout. If a “seller” asks you to pay outside Ticketmaster, it’s a scam.
Watch out for sob stories or high-pressure tactics
Scammers will sometimes use manipulative tactics like sob stories or high-pressure tactics to get you to bypass your concerns. A seller may say they urgently need to sell tickets due to a family emergency, military deployment or other fabricated story. Or they may use high-pressure tactics like telling you another buyer is interested so you need to act immediately. These are red flags of a scam. A genuine seller won’t rush you or make unusual appeals for quick payment.
Verify ticket delivery details
Always confirm how and when you will receive tickets before purchasing. Tickets should be delivered electronically via Ticketmaster’s Verified Tickets system which ensures authenticity. Physical paper tickets are rare and shouldn’t be promised by sellers. Make sure delivery details are clear and standard. Scammers often promise special delivery options that sound too good to be true.
Know Ticketmaster’s buyer guarantees
Ticketmaster provides buyer guarantees to protect customers from scams, including guaranteed valid tickets or a refund. Understand Ticketmaster policies so scammers can’t trick you into thinking you lack recourse if scammed. Ticketmaster will replace invalid tickets or refund your money if a seller scams you. Don’t let scammers convince you otherwise.
Use a credit card
Always pay with a credit card when purchasing Ticketmaster tickets online. Credit cards offer fraud protection so you can dispute the charges if you don’t receive valid tickets. Avoid using debit cards, wire transfers, gift cards or cash apps as you won’t be able to get your money back in a scam. Paying by credit card gives you the most protection.
Trust your instincts
If an offer seems fake, or a seller seems suspicious, trust your gut feeling and avoid the purchase. There are many scammers out there taking advantage of high ticket demand. If anything signals a red flag to you, don’t ignore it. It’s better to miss out on a deal than lose money to a scam.
Don’t buy speculative tickets
Ticketmaster prohibits sellers from listing speculative tickets to events before they officially go on sale. Any “pre-sale” tickets listed long before on-sale dates are scams. Wait until tickets officially go on sale before making purchases. Beware of scammers luring eager buyers too early with fake tickets.
Watch out for these common Ticketmaster scams:
Fake ticket listings
Scammers list fake tickets to sold out events at cheap prices to attract buyers. But no tickets will be delivered after payment.
Third party website scams
Fraudulent websites impersonate Ticketmaster to steal login details and payment information. Always access Ticketmaster directly.
Trivia question scams
Scam listings require you to answer an irrelevant trivia question before purchasing. This is just a ploy to steal personal information.
Resale ticket scams
Scammers list non-existent resale tickets on Ticketmaster to capitalize on high demand. They have no tickets to deliver.
Deposit scams
Sellers request an upfront deposit and promise to deliver tickets later. But they take the money and disappear once paid.
| Type of Scam | How it Works | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Fake ticket listings | Scammers list non-existent tickets at low prices to lure buyers | Watch for unrealistic prices, research sellers, use Ticketmaster buyer protection |
| Third party website scams | Fraudulent sites impersonate Ticketmaster to steal personal information and payment details | Only access Ticketmaster through ticketmaster.com, check for secure https URL |
| Trivia question scams | Listings require answering a trivia question to access tickets and steal personal information | Real Ticketmaster listings won’t ask irrelevant questions or require personal information |
| Resale ticket scams | Scammers list non-existent resale tickets to capitalize on high demand | Vet sellers carefully, don’t buy from anonymous or new sellers |
| Deposit scams | Requesting an upfront deposit and promising to deliver tickets later, then disappearing with payment | Never pay outside of Ticketmaster checkout, don’t provide sensitive information |
Conclusion
While Ticketmaster is generally a very safe and convenient way to buy event tickets, users should be aware of the potential for scams on high demand tickets. Always research seller profiles, watch for unrealistic prices or sales tactics, pay via Ticketmaster, and trust your instincts to avoid being defrauded. Use Ticketmaster buyer guarantees if you have any doubts. Stay vigilant and you can securely buy real tickets from the convenience of Ticketmaster. For any other questions, contact Ticketmaster customer service for assistance. Enjoy the show!
