Beware Of Detroit Tigers Playoff Ticket Scams
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Looking to buy some Detroit Tigers playoff tickets? Watch out for scams.
That's the message from the Better Business Bureau of Michigan, which says sports fans should be aware that crooks are waiting to take advantage, and should only purchase ticket from a secure website
The BBB's Lisa Dilg says fake tickets are a real problem.
"It can be a significant issue... It happened last year to my father even," Dilg told WWJ Newsradio 950's Brian Larsen. "He bought tickets, showed up at the game, and they were not real tickets."
What should you watch out for?
"A sign that somebody is not legitimate would be to try to collect funds in an abnormal way — maybe by wire transfer or moneypak card or some other kind of an untraceable form of payment," Dilg said.
Dilg said those who do fall for such a scam may not have much of a chance to get their money back.
"For most of these, it's too late...you know, depending on how you've paid for it," said Dilg. "If you've paid for it with a credit card on a legitimate site, there's usually some recourse. But, otherwise, if you're buying on the street or through a Craigslist ad or something like that, you're really not gonna have a lot of recourse."
Ticket buyers also should be wary of sellers who try to lure buyers from a legitimate site to another site for a "private" transaction, the bureau said. Scammers often want to conduct their business on sites with names that mimic well-known companies but actually are fakes.
Keep these tips in mind:
Make sure the website has a secure payment processing system, usually denoted by "https://" at the start of its website address or URL or a small closed lock icon at the bottom of the screen. [The Better Business Bureau has a list of reliable ticket brokers on their website]/
If you buy tickets through an online auction site, choose a seller with a long history of satisfied customers. Scammers can hijack old accounts, so make sure the seller has recently sold other tickets.
Know the difference between a ticket broker (legitimate and accredited reseller) and a ticket scalper (unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller).
Check the ticket broker's refund policy. Only buy from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction.
Check the seats out ahead of time. Always ask for section, row and seat number to avoid obstructed view seats or seats that do not exist. Also, feel free to ask questions to make certain you get all the answers you need to feel comfortable with your ticket purchase.
If you believe you have purchased a counterfeit ticket, immediately report it to the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB) hotline at 630-510-4594 and file a complaint with BBB at www.bbb.org/detroit.
