Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is cautioning sports fans to be mindful of fraud artists when purchasing football bowl game tickets this holiday season.
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is cautioning sports fans to be mindful of fraud artists when purchasing football bowl game tickets this holiday season.
“The upcoming bowl season is an opportunity for scam artists to take advantage of excited fans who may be in a hurry to purchase game tickets,” Goddard said. “Doing some research before buying tickets or making travel arrangements will allow consumers to avoid common pitfalls and scams.”
Many of these scams are designed to obtain personal financial information. Goddard recommends the following steps when buying event tickets.
n Purchase tickets directly from the team or the venue where the event is going to be held. If you go through a ticket broker, do your homework. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been filed against the company and look for the BBB online seal.
n When buying through an online auction site, do not let the individual seller lure you away from the original Web site. Any guarantee offered by the ticket broker online is lost if you purchase the tickets outside its Web site.
n Before buying the tickets, check the event’s Web site to make certain the seats and the section exist. If a phone number is listed on the Web site, call the number to see if it is correct and working.
n Never pay with a cashier’s check or wire money to the seller; you’ll have no way to get your money back if the tickets never arrive. Pay with a credit card, which is safer than a debit card, or through a neutral third-party escrow service such as
PayPal, which offers some amount of protection and potential reimbursement.
Goddard also warns consumers to be careful when making travel plans to attend games.
n When booking over the Internet, be cautious about making reservations with unknown people or businesses that require advance payment or deposits without a written contract. Legitimate businesses will always provide a written contract guaranteeing your reservation.
n Don’t make any transactions that can be completed only by phone. Legitimate reservation companies will offer the option to book by phone or via the Internet. Get their address and ask about a written contract and refund policy. Do an Internet search of the address to see if a map shows the location.
n Be cautious of travel offers that appear “too good to be true.” Dramatically reduced fares are often not legitimate and may require additional payments the buyer is unaware of when making the reservation. Read the fine print before purchasing.
n Beware of travel reservation Web sites that are unfamiliar to you. Scam Web sites have been cropping up that offer reduced fares on travel and hotel accommodations, only to steal your credit card information. Research a site before making a purchase and stick to trusted travel sites when booking online.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, contact the Attorney General’s Office outside the metro areas at 1-800-352-8431. To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General’s Office has 36 satellite offices throughout Arizona with volunteers available to assist you.
Locations and hours are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov.
