Getting scammed when trying to buy tickets for a concert, sports event, or other hot ticket item can be extremely frustrating. Unfortunately, scams are common when demand for tickets is high and supplies are limited. Scammers take advantage of eager fans ready to pay top dollar to get into an event. If you’ve been scammed when trying to buy tickets, there are several steps you should take right away to get your money back and report the scam.
How ticket scams work
Ticket scammers use a variety of tactics to trick people into sending money for fake tickets. Some of the most common ticket scam methods include:
– Listing tickets for sale online but never delivering them after payment. The scammer may create a fake website or online classified ad pretending to sell tickets.
– Selling counterfeit or spoofed tickets that look real but won’t get you into the event.
– Reselling tickets they don’t actually have yet, often for events that are sold out. After you pay, the scammer disappears without ever getting the tickets.
– Asking you to pay through peer-to-peer payment apps or by wire transfer, which offer no buyer fraud protection.
– Stealing credit card numbers to fraudulently purchase tickets then reselling to unsuspecting buyers. When the original cardholder notices and does a chargeback, the tickets are canceled and invalid.
– Using bots to quickly buy up all the tickets when they first go on sale then reselling them at inflated prices on secondary markets. This is not technically illegal but is unfair to fans.
Report the scam immediately
If you sent money to a scammer, it’s important to take action quickly in hopes of stopping the fraudster and getting your money back. Here are the first things you should do:
Report to authorities
File a report about the scam with the following authorities:
– Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Report fraud online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP.
– IC3.gov – Report internet crimes to the FBI at the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
– State attorney general – Look up the AG website for your state to file a complaint.
– Local police – File a police report with your local law enforcement. This helps establish an official record of the crime.
Notify your bank
If you paid by credit or debit card, call your bank and dispute the charges as fraudulent. Tell them you believe you got scammed and did not receive what you paid for. Your bank may be able to do a chargeback to reverse the charges and get your money back.
Act fast, as many card issuers have time limits on how long you have to dispute a charge (typically 60-120 days). Provide details on who you paid and when, and that you attempted to recover your losses but were unsuccessful. Having a police report can help strengthen your claim.
If you wired money through your bank, go to your local branch and explain you were defrauded. Ask them to issue a wire recall to attempt to get the money back. It’s unlikely to succeed since wire transfers are typically final, but it’s worth trying.
Notify payment services
If you paid using PayPal, Zelle or another peer-to-peer payment app, contact their fraud department right away. Report you didn’t get what you paid for and believe your funds were stolen through deceptive business practices. While scam protections are limited on these platforms, reporting the fraud at least helps raise awareness and prevents future victims.
Gather evidence of the scam
Collecting evidence and documentation helps authorities investigate and prosecute scammers. Having proof of how you were scammed also strengthens fraud disputes with banks. Here’s what information to gather:
– Save copies of all communications with the scammer including emails, texts, receipts, ads or website screenshots.
– Note the scammer’s name, phone number, addresses, website and any other identifying details.
– Document how you paid, including account numbers and transaction IDs, to show exactly where your money went.
– Take screenshots showing the tickets you bought were supposed to be valid, in case the seller deletes listings after your payment clears.
Watch for these common ticket scam red flags
Looking back on the transaction, you may notice some suspicious behaviors that should have been warning signs of a scam. Common ticket scam red flags include:
– Prices that are drastically below face value and market value for sold out events.
– Pressuring buyers to pay quickly before somebody else buys the tickets.
– Only accepting wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or other non-reversible payments.
– Communications through insecure channels like social media DMs instead of business email or phone.
– Listings for hard-to-get or sold out tickets popping up right after events sell out.
– Seller insisting ticket delivery must be after payment instead of using a secure ticket exchange platform.
– Lack of seller reviews and verified contact info on marketplace platforms.
Contact the venue and event organizer
After reporting the scam to authorities, reach out to the venue and event organizer to notify them as well. They likely can’t refund your money, but this helps them identify the scammer and add your case details to their records.
Provide all the purchase details, seller info, screenshots and any other evidence to assist their fraud investigations. Hopefully they can identify, catch and prosecute the scammer or scalper fraud ring, or at least shut down any fake websites.
Some tips for contacting the venue:
Check for fraud alerts online
Research the venue website and social channels to see if they have posted any fraud warnings about fake ticket sales for the event. Reply to the post or contact as instructed.
Look for fan support contacts
Many venues and teams have fan experience departments who can help log your complaint if you were victimized by a scam. Check their official website for customer service contacts.
Try contacting box office managers
Directly reach out to box office, security and loss prevention staff at the venue. Explain you already reported the crime but want to alert them as well.
Email ticket brokers
If you bought through a ticket resale marketplace or broker, notify their fraud and security staff with all details of the scam. They may be able to help identify larger scalping schemes.
Recover your losses through other means
If you are unable to get your money back by disputing the charges, there are some other potential options to recover your losses or get replacement tickets:
File a claim through your insurance
Some homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies may cover financial fraud losses. Just remember you typically must report the crime to police and file a claim within 60 days. Provide your police report and be prepared to explain when, where and how you got scammed. If approved they will reimburse your stolen ticket funds, minus your deductible.
Consult a lawyer about legal options
For large losses, you may want to have a lawyer review your case and see if you have any grounds for legal action. They can advise if you can reasonably pursue the scammer for damages through civil court. This will likely require suing the fraudster directly, which only works if you have their real verified identity and location.
Buy replacement tickets
Chalking it up as an expensive lesson, you can always try to buy new legit tickets. Search trustworthy resale sites like StubHub for last minute seats, or ask the box office if any tickets were held back or canceled. You will likely pay more than face value but it may be worth it rather than missing the event altogether.
Avoid getting scammed again in the future
To reduce chances of falling victim to ticket scammers and touts in the future, here are some tips:
Use official ticket sources
Always buy through the event’s official primary ticket seller, which is usually the venue box office, promoter or an authorized ticket exchange platform recommended by the venue.
Research sellers and marketplace sites
Vet secondary resellers thoroughly before buying tickets on resale sites. Look for signs of legitimacy like contact info, customer reviews, purchase guarantees and fraud protections.
Meet locally in person
Never buy print-at-home paper tickets or hard tickets from someone online unless you can meet them to complete the exchange. Refuse wire transfers, shipped tickets or online payments.
Register tickets immediately
Transferring tickets into your own name right after purchase prevents scammers from selling the same tickets to multiple people.
Pay with credit card
Always pay by credit card when buying tickets online, never by wire, gift card, cryptocurrency or other irreversible means. You need chargeback recourse if the tickets don’t arrive.
Use ticket exchange escrow services
Sites like StubHub allow you to buy secondhand tickets safely using their facilitated ticket transfer system and guarantees. The seller can’t get paid until after the event when you confirm legitimate ticket use.
Be wary of below market prices
If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fraudsters lure victims by listing impossible to get tickets at well below face value or typical resale prices.
Conclusion
Getting scammed when buying tickets is extremely frustrating but being armed with the right protections and responses can help minimize your losses. Always buy from reputable sellers, use payment methods with purchase protection, and thoroughly validate tickets upon receipt. If you do fall victim to a ticket scam, act swiftly to report it to authorities, file disputes and claim insurance if you can. With vigilance and caution, you can hopefully avoid falling into the traps set by greedy ticket scammers and untrustworthy scalpers.
| Step | Action to Take |
|---|---|
| 1 | File a report with the FTC, IC3, police, etc. |
| 2 | Dispute fraudulent charges with your bank |
| 3 | Notify payment services like PayPal if used |
| 4 | Gather evidence of the scam |
| 5 | Contact the venue and event organizer |
| 6 | Pursue other refund options |
| 7 | Avoid future scams |
| Red Flag | Sign of a Potential Scam |
|---|---|
| Below market prices | Scammers lure with deals too good to be true |
| Pressure to pay quickly | Rush tactics to get your money before you have time to investigate |
| Non-reversible payment demands | Wire, gift card, crypto payments can’t be disputed or reversed |
| Unsecured ticket delivery | Avoid buying print-at-home or hard copy tickets shipped to you |
| Anonymous sellers | Look for verified seller information and reviews |