Scammers may run fakes past fans before home opener
Burnsville, MN – September 16, 2015 – With
the NFL season underway and the Minnesota Vikings home opener just
around the corner, Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota
(BBB) is warning fans to watch out for scammers that might be trying to
peddle counterfeit tickets online and outside the stadium right up
until the opening kickoff. BBB reminds everyone that they run the risk
of getting thrown for a big loss if they decide to gamble on a less than
reputable ticket source.
“We
hear too often about fans who thought they were going to get into the
stadium only to discover they’ve bought phony tickets online or from
scalpers,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of BBB of Minnesota and
North Dakota. “We’re reminding everyone it’s important to watch out for
fake handoffs before the game, and not just this week but every week.”
To avoid getting ripped off buying game tickets, BBB recommends you:
- Choose a reputable online ticket broker. Visit the official NFL online ticket exchange at nfl.com/tickets. When purchasing tickets through any other online brokers, look for the BBB seal on their website and research them online at bbb.org. Review the company’s track record and what their policy is if tickets purchased through their site are fake or not as advertised. When buying tickets online, ideally pay with a credit card because that form of payment offers consumer protections debit cards generally don’t provide.
· Be leery of buying from scalpers at the event.
Buying tickets near the venue on game day can be a game of roulette.
The seats may be just as advertised or you might find yourself outside
the stadium and also out whatever money you paid. Keep in mind that
scammers have gotten quite good at counterfeiting tickets.
- Never wire money to someone you don’t know. If you find an out of town seller online that claims to have tickets to the game, be careful. Any request by the seller to have you wire money to pay for the tickets should be the big red flag that makes you walk away. This is virtually always the sign of a scam.
On their website, the Vikings offer these additional tips:
- Always check with the Vikings Ticket Office or the ticket booths to see if tickets are available. Oftentimes the visiting team may return tickets on the day of the game.
- Never buy an Eticket or TicketFast ticket (printed on 81/2” x 11” paper) from anyone! Most counterfeits are Etickets or TicketFast tickets. If you purchase Vikings tickets from an unauthorized source you run the risk that it is fake.
· Ask
the person who is selling tickets on the street if you could take a
picture of him/her with their valid ID before the transaction. If they
refuse, move on.
Finally, apply common sense.
Tickets for the best seats and the big games are in high demand because
they’re hard to get. The chances of you getting lucky and finding an
unbelievable deal are slim. If a situation sounds too good to be true,
such as someone selling tickets for much less than they’re being offered
elsewhere, the offer is probably not on the level.
