With the Portland Trail Blazers battling it out in the playoffs, many fans will be looking for the best deals to catch a game. At the same time, scammers will be looking for the best ways to con fans out of their money. Better Business Bureau Northwest & Pacific is warning fans of counterfeit tickets and merchandise.
In the past year there have been more than 850 counterfeit scams and more than 300 ticket scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker in North America.
BBB advises the following tips to avoid being scammed:
· Purchase from the venue. Whenever possible, use the official ticket sales agent for the venue. Many now offer secondary sales options, as well.
· Consider your source. Know the difference between a professional ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited reseller), a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller), and a scammer selling fraudulent tickets. · Check out the seller/broker. Look them up on bbb.org to learn what other customers have experienced.
· Buy only from trusted vendors. Buy online only from vendors you know and trust. Look for the lock symbol in the web address to indicate a secure purchasing system. Don’t click through from emails or online ads; a common scam trick is to create a web address that is similar to a well-known company.
· Know the refund policy. You should only purchase tickets from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction.
· Use payment methods that come with protection. Always use a credit card, so you have some recourse if the tickets are not as promised. Debit cards, wire transfer or cash transactions are risky; if the tickets are fraudulent, you won’t be able to get your money back.
· Seller beware. Keep in mind; it’s not just the buyer who is being ripped off. There have been instances of on-line sellers and buyers being ripped off, attacked, and even one fatal incident when a seller showed up at a meet up sight and was robbed and killed.
· Shop smart. Before buying your favorite players jerseys, research the seller to ensure it isn’t counterfeit. When you buy counterfeit merchandise you steal from designers and innovators who create original work, take business away from honest retailers, and reduce tax revenue. In some cases, counterfeit goods finance illegal activities and even exploit child labor. It’s a big red flag if the deal sounds to good to be true.
If you’ve been cheated, or if you see suspicious activity, report the scam to authorities and BBB Scam Tracker to warn others.
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