5 ways to avoid concert ticket scams

Concert tickets sell out quickly and sometimes within minutes of announcing the event. The more popular an artist is, the harder it becomes to buy tickets, either online or in person. This is when scammers swing into action and launch a barrage of lucrative offers. Some tickets are sold for dirt-cheap prices, some are duplicates, and mostly these are just schemes to swindle people out of their hard-earned cash. Here is how you can avoid getting scammed.

Check minute details
Scammers sell tickets with a fake barcode or serial number for the registered event. This is hard to spot, but you need to know that these details won’t appear randomly on the ticket. Look for printing mistakes, invalid QR code scanners, and details that stand out. You can easily verify the authenticity using apps you can download to check barcodes.

Don’t pay third parties
Scammers usually have a third-party payment or merchant banking service to collect the sale proceeds. With third-party portals, there is no way to get your money back once it’s processed. When buying tickets online, make a payment once you confirm that the ticket money is being processed by the authorized online partners registered with the event.

Beware of cheap deals
Ticket prices that are too good to be true are fake. Even with promotions, coupon codes, and discount vouchers, there cannot be a drastic reduction or change in the ticket price. Scammers pop up with last-minute offers, exclusive lucky draws, and even fake collaborations to unload these tickets on popular social media handles. Beware of such deals.

Never buy under pressure
Playing on the buyer’s desperation is one of the oldest tactics scammers use. They will try to sell the ticket by putting unnecessary pressure and strongly trying to convince others that this is a good deal. Avoid these calls and message prompts at all costs. Check for genuine vendors or buy tickets directly from the venue in advance.

Always read the fine print
Pay attention to the terms and conditions, refund, and return policies mentioned on the booking site. These subtle but relevant details can help you spot a fake ticket-selling scam. You must verify its information before clicking on the given links to make a payment. If something does not seem right, immediately report the scam.