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Sports fans booking last minute tickets and travel for big events are a prime target for scammers, according to Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull.
After yesterday’s victory, New England fans may be considering taking that last minute trip to be a part of Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, MN on February 4th. Last minute ticket and travel sales for major sporting events are a huge opportunity for scammers to take advantage of fans.
“Seeing a team we support do well is such a fun thing for families to be a part of,” said Seagull. “Unfortunately, scammers see that excitement as an opportunity to get you to act fast without thinking, and purchase tickets or travel packages that are misrepresented, or not real at all.”
If you plan on making a last minute trip to the Super Bowl, make sure you've done your research and read everything carefully before committing to a purchase. If you see an offer from a ticket reseller, know that a reputable reseller should:
- Offer guarantees that the tickets they sell are authentic.
- Ensure that they will deliver the correct tickets in time for the event.
- Have clear refund policies for canceled or rescheduled events.
- Tell you the location of your seats, when the tickets will be available for pick up, or when they will ship.
If you see online classified ads offering tickets for sale, beware that you may:
- Get counterfeit tickets or tickets that are not valid
- Not receive tickets, or receive tickets too late to attend the game
- Receive tickets for a different venue, or for a different section of the stadium than what you purchased. There are a lot of fan experience events surrounding the Super Bowl. Don't mistake these for actual game tickets.
Seagull warned that in order to avoid falling victim to a scam, you should:
- Pay by credit card. If there is a problem, you have the right to dispute charges and temporarily withhold payment while your dispute is investigated. you will also have a record of your purchase.
- Never wire money to buy tickets. If something goes wrong with the transaction, you'll have no way to get your money back.
- Research the seller's reputation. Read reviews, and do a search using the seller's name or website with terms like "reviews," "scam" or "complaint."
- Steer clear of travel packages offering "guaranteed" tickets. Travel websites may use logos and trademarks to make them look legitimate, or even claim they are an official National Football League partner.
If consumers feel they’ve been a victim of a scam and are unable to resolve the issue with the company or seller, complaints may be filed by filling out this form and emailing it to dcp.complaints@ct.gov.
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