The New England Patriots are headed to the playoffs and many fans are anxious to cheer them on in person! In the midst of all the excitement, Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises sports fans to be on the lookout for ticket scams when making playoff ticket purchases.
“Since there is such a high demand for these tickets, BBB anticipates a rise in the number of counterfeit ticket scams that could potentially affect many excited football fanatics” says Paula Fleming, vice president of communications and marketing for BBB.
BBB advises consumers to use caution when making ticket purchases and offers the following tips for making intelligent buying decisions:
- Start your search with trust. Know the name, address and phone number of the business you would like to make a purchase from. Check out the business at bbb.org to be sure that it is legitimate.
- Be sure to get the details in writing; this includes price of the tickets and cancellation policies.
- After you have done your research and find a legitimate business to make your purchase from, go ahead and buy. BBB advises using a credit card or PayPal when making these purchases as the charges are more secure and easiest to cancel.
- When buying tickets online, ask for a picture of the ticket and verify it using the venue’s seating chart. Get the seller’s real name and contact information, as well as a receipt for the purchase.
- If you buy from an online seller, ie craigslist, ebay etc. be sure you take the necessary precautions to ensure you are not being sold a fake.
Fans should also take into consideration that when purchasing tickets that ticket forgeries could be just the start of a scam. Consumers should be sure not to panic and buy from a business that they don’t know in order to also minimize the chance of becoming a victim of identity theft during the buying process. These NFL playoff tickets are the hottest tickets to buy right now so it will be a favorite event for thieves of all kinds. BBB emphasizes the importance of exercising all precautions when making purchases and taking advantage of the services at
bbb.org in order to make wise buying decisions.
