BBB warns of online ticket scams

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Better Business Bureau is warning locals to be on the lookout for a new scam that is arising.

This time it deals with purchasing event tickets online.

Many consumers choose to look for cheaper options when it comes to purchasing tickets online, but it is important to make sure that the website is legitimate.

“A local Jackson woman was actually scammed out of $1,000 purchasing tickets for a play called Wicked. Now we are in the fall season, a lot of plays are coming out. So definitely want to be on the lookout when it comes to purchasing tickets by a reseller. So not actually purchasing it through the website or through Ticketmaster, but using a third party reseller,” said Toddnetta Trice, the Public Relation Specialist for the BBB.

The woman scammed never received the tickets after paying, even though the company communicated she would get them eventually before the event. 

“She was in communication with the company for weeks, for months, and they kept giving her the run around. ‘You’re going to get it this day. You’re going to get it that day.’ And of course she kept following up like, ‘I haven’t received it. I haven’t received it.’ They said, ‘Well, you’ll get it the day of.’ The day of came, the show came, she missed the show because she never received those tickets,” Trice said.

There are a few tips for those who are looking for cheaper ticket options online. 

“Look for ticket sellers that protect their buyers. So of course they must be registered with the National Association of Ticket Brokers. You can Google that, look that up as well as review the policies before making a purchase,” Trice said.

The BBB also recommends using a credit card for large purchases to add an extra layer of protection in case the purchase is a scam.

“Fortunately for this victim, I just found out today that she did use a credit card for the purchase and her credit card actually refunded her for the purchase because she wasn’t able to see the show. She never received any tickets,” Trice said.

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