Dec. 16, 2021
Carson City, NV – Nevada Attorney General Aaron
D. Ford encourages consumers to pay careful attention to signs of deception
when purchasing resold tickets online.
“Nevada is one of the entertainment capitals
of the world. While there are legitimate ticket resale companies and other sources
for buying resold tickets to Nevada’s many entertainment options, consumers
should be on alert for scams and sellers who do not follow important consumer
protection laws when reselling tickets,” said AG Ford.
The Office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of
Consumer Protection advises Nevadans to be on the lookout for the following
ticket resale scams:
Speculative Ticketing: Speculative ticketing occurs
when ticket resale companies allow sellers to post tickets for sale that the
seller does not yet own. The consumer then purchases tickets that the seller
never actually obtains. The purchaser is then left without tickets, often only
days or even hours before the scheduled event. Moreover, the consumer often
struggles to get a refund.
Over-inflated Ticket Prices: Frequently, tickets for
in-demand events sell out on the original seller’s site almost automatically,
only to appear on ticket resale sites for exorbitantly higher prices minutes
later. Sometimes this is the result of agreements between ticket resale companies
and third-party consultants to purchase tickets in bulk and resell them at
inflated prices for profit.
Use of Bots: Bots are software that can buy
tickets quicker than the average consumer. These bots are generally illegal
under the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, but scammers still frequently
use them, allowing them to cheat the ticketing system, often bypassing ticket
limits and using fake names and addresses to purchase large amounts of tickets
all at once.
Ticket Scalping: Ticket scalpers have taken
their unlawful practices online, often using fraudulent websites. These sites
are designed to mimic reputable ticket or venue websites to trick consumers
into purchasing counterfeit tickets and to steal their credit card information.
The purchaser only later finds out the website is a scam, and the consumer is
left with no real tickets and the scammer having the consumer’s personal and
financial information. Consumers should be aware these scam ticket resale
companies can pop up in internet searches despite being fraudulent.
Misleading Information: Consumers purchasing tickets
in the ticket resale market should stay alert for misleading information, even
on reputable ticket resale websites. Examples include providing misleading
information about the number of seats left for an event; the use of tactics
that pressure consumers into making fast decisions when purchasing tickets;
omitting full contract details or other important ticket resale company
policies and procedures; and selling tickets with incorrect ticket information,
such as the date of the event.
Tips for Avoiding Ticket Resale
Problems Overall, stay vigilant and take the time to do
research before purchasing tickets on a ticket resale website to avoid ticket
resale scams. The Office of the Nevada Attorney General Bureau of Consumer
Protection also offers the following tips:
- If possible, purchase tickets from the venue box office or other
authorized direct ticket issuer companies;
- Verify that the ticket seller has a real physical address and
phone number. Scammers often post fake addresses or completely omit addresses
and other contact information;
- Search for and verify the actual website of the ticket resale
company. Scalpers create fake websites that look like the website of a
reputable ticket seller;
- If you are buying from an individual seller, ask the seller for
proof that he or she actually owns the ticket before purchasing;
- Use an internet search engine to search for the seller. Find out
if others have reported any problems with the ticket resale company or if it is
established and legitimate. Include words like “fraud” or “scam” along with the
seller’s name in your online search;
- Do not provide any personal or financial information to purchase
tickets online unless you have verified that the ticket resale company is
legitimate; and
- Once you have verified a ticket resale website, use a credit card
as opposed to a debit card whenever possible. Your credit card offers more
protections in case you need to dispute a charge.
If you believe you have been a victim of scam
involving ticket resales, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Office of the Nevada Attorney
General. You can also file a police report with local law enforcement.
You may also learn more information from the FTC. Include as much information as
possible with your complaint.
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