The BBB outlines four tips to help you put your money in the right hands when buying for high-profile events.
CLEVELAND — The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has some tips for protecting you from scams involving the highest-profile concerts demanding the highest ticket prices.
If you’ve been to a concert recently that featured a pop superstar like Taylor Swift, a legend from a farewell tour like Elton John, or a pop/punk icon like Blink 182 reuniting, you’re Know what you have to pay to gain access to the big arena.
If you’re lucky enough to order your flight through a first-party seller like Ticketmaster, their new dynamic pricing model, an algorithmic control of pricing based on supply and demand, might make you sweat while checking out the price of a one-way ticket, and the scalpers get their hands on it.
This has led many to turn to the secondary market when they lose their first buying opportunity.
But buyer beware, these popular concerts present an opportunity for scammers to play on your sense of urgency and fear of missing out with fake tickets.
The BBB outlines four tips to help you put your money in the right hands:
research company – If purchasing from a ticket reseller or event organizer, please do your research on BBB.org first. Check out the BBB’s website to see if they have a BBB business profile. Be sure to read the company’s buyer protection policy and refund policy. Also, check the BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/ScamTracker) to see if anyone else has reported them as a scam. Avoid buying tickets from individuals posting on Craigslist or other online marketplaces.
incredible – Be wary of deals that are too good to be true, and be wary of tempting offers that are well below prevailing prices.
Use the official website – If possible, please use the official band website for merchandise purchases and authorized ticket brokers such as ticketmaster.com.
Never use online payment methods, prepaid debit cards or gift cards as a payment method – These payment methods are often requested by scammers and once the money is gone, it is very difficult to recover the funds. Choose to use credit card as a payment method on secure sites (look for HTTPS).
If you come across scams or shady conductors online, please report these instances to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
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