With the Super Bowl coming to Miami, here’s how to avoid ticket scams
Miami will be a hot destination over the next few months.
Between the Super Bowl, “Hamilton” and spring break, all kinds of people will be temporarily calling the 305 home.
But as with any big event, there are always people trying to put one over on you. The most common way? Ticket fraud.
According to the Chicago Tribune, ticket scams affect approximately 5 million people a year. That’s a high figure considering how much foot traffic South Florida will see in the coming months.
To help you steer clear of scammers, the Herald put together a list of tips that’ll keep you fraud free.
Buy from primary sellers
This is the only foolproof way to avoid ticket fraud. Primary sellers include the venue (e.g., Arsht Center) or the organization hosting the event (e.g., the NFL).
Make sure secondary seller is from reputable source
If an event sells out quickly, you might have to turn to the secondary market. Tickets on the secondary market are re-sold usually for a profit. That means you have to make sure the source is an authorized seller.
The most common authorized sellers are StubHub, LiveNation, Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats and Seat Geek.
Don’t trust search engines (in specific circumstances)
While it may sound counter-intuitive, search engines won’t always yield the best results. A lot of secondary sources will appear first. Go directly to the venue or organization’s website.
One way that search engines might help is if you’re unsure about the seller. Search engines are a great way to help you find negative reviews about a seller. Plug their name into a search engine along with the words “fraud,” “scams,” and “fake tickets” and see what pops up.
Pay with credit card
Always use a credit card to purchase tickets. That way, if you do end up buying fake tickets, you can dispute the transaction with the credit-card company.
Look for red flags
Trust your gut. If the ticket price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Some scammers like to create fake websites that closely resemble that of authorized sellers. Be mindful of whether you’re purchasing from the correct site.
Other red flags include imperfect English and unusual phrases in the ticket description.
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
