TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the NCAA are warning basketball fans about potential ticket scams as March Madness gets underway.
The National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB) is offering these tips:
o The NCAA advises fans to buy from their website, or host schools ticket offices. The NCAA Ticket Exchange is the only 100% guaranteed, NCAA-approved secondary ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship tickets with other fans. Ticket holders who are unable to attend a game or find their team eliminated have a place to safely sell their tickets, and buyers can be assured that the tickets are authentic and guaranteed. Log on to www.ncaa.com/tickets.
o Check out third-party sellers/brokers. Look them up on bbb.org or call BBB serving Central & Eastern Kentucky at (859) 259-1008 or 1-800-866-6668 for the company’s BBB Profile. Check to see if they are a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers at VerifiedTicketSource.com. NATB members offer a 200% purchase guarantee on tickets.
o Buy only from trusted vendors. Look for the padlock symbol in the web address to indicate a secure purchasing system. Don’t click through from emails or online ads; a common scam trick is to create a web address that is similar to a well-known company.
o Know the refund policy. Only purchase tickets from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction. Sellers should disclose, prior to purchase, the location of the seats represented by the tickets, either orally or by reference to a seating chart; and, if the tickets are not available for immediate access to the purchaser, disclose when the tickets will ship or be available for pick up.
o Use payment methods that come with protection. Always use a credit card so you have some possible recourse if the tickets are not as promised. Debit cards, wire transfer or cash transactions are risky; if the tickets are fraudulent, you won’t be able to recover your money.
o Be wary of ticket offers at extreme discount prices – these are usually too good to be true. Buy at your own risk if you choose to use sites like Craig’s List that offer no guarantees or seller identification. NEVER wire funds to strangers. Try to meet in person if possible.
