The NCAA Tournament is almost here – and so are the ticket scams.
KAKE News is On Your Side with these tips to protect your money and game-day plans.
According to the Better Business Bureau, there are seven things you should think about.
- Buy your tickets from the venue.
Tickets to see games at Intrust Bank Arena are sold out, but whenever you can, always use the official ticket sales agent for the venue.
- Think about your source.
It’s best to know the difference between a professional ticket broker (like an accredited reseller), a scalper (unlicensed ticket seller) and scammer, who sells fake tickets.
- You’ll want to check out the seller.
The BBB has an easy search option on its website BBB.org. You can enter the name or website of the vendor and see how its rated. You can also see how it’s handled possible complaints from customers and if those problems were resolved. “Check to see if they are a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers. NATB members offer a 200% purchase guarantee on tickets. Look up the seller on VerifiedTicketSource.com to confirm you are buying from an NATB-member resale company,” the BBB website also suggests
- Be aware of the refund policy.
If a ticket reseller does not have clear details about terms of your purchase, do not buy from them. According to the BBB, sellers should disclose to the buyer, prior to your purchase, the location of the seats in the venue. The ticket reseller should also give you all the information about ticket pickup or shipment.
- Buy with protection.
You should also use a credit card, so you can have some recourse if your tickets are a scam or not as promised. Debit cards, wire transfers and cash transactions are always a risky form of payment.
- Be careful with your web search.
As you search for ticket deals online, inevitably, scams will pop up. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
- Verify your tickets. After your purchase, take your ticket to the customer service office at the venue. The staff there can verify if your ticket is legit.