Ticket Scam: Don’t Be a Victim

Getting tickets to a concert can be a pain. At times you even have to fight your way through crowds just to get one. But when you get scammed, it’s even worse. It is utterly frustrating and sad. Not only does it waste your money but it diminishes your opportunity to be a part of something memorable. So whenever you get tickets, make sure that it’s authentic.

If you’re purchasing online, make sure the website’s legitimate. To lessen your chances of a scam, purchase through proven and trusted sites. These websites have usually operated for years and they’re the go-to ticket sites for millions. Their disadvantage however is a fast sell out. You practically have to pull an all-nighter just to get a ticket the minute they go on sale. So how can one avoid being ripped of by those dodgy ticket salesmen?

Beware of websites that offer deals that are too good to be true. For instance, advance sales of tickets when they’re not even available yet. You can find out if tickets were already on sale through the artist’s or record company’s website itself. They usually post a bulletin for this. Check for proof of authenticity on a website. Make sure that their address is a certified street address and not merely a P.O. box. If they posted a contact number, try if it’s working first.

You can also Google the website and read what others have to say about it. Good feedback translates to authenticity. Bad ones generally mean there is a scam involved. So take the bad comments as red flags to avoid transacting with that website. You have to protect yourself because it is your money and account information that’s at risk.

Before finalising any sale, be sure to ask about the details. Know what seat you are getting, face value of the ticket and other applicable charges. Ask when your ticket will be dispatched, when it will arrive, and if you could track its transport. Also, there are questions that you usually miss to ask that are important. These questions are- what happens when something goes wrong? Does the company have policies on refunds?

Make sure that you cover all blindsides when purchasing online. You don’t want to be solely reliable when something goes wrong with your purchase. As much as possible, protect yourself. When your transaction is successful, make sure to give good feedback- for the benefit of others. If it’s a scam, give warnings. This way you can help others protect themselves too when purchasing tickets.