How to avoid Super Bowl scams as experts warn of – Business News
The Super Bowl is a scammer’s dream, in accordance to online security experts, and followers ought to be on “high alert” for fraudulent tickets and counterfeit web sites whereas looking for tix to the large recreation.
Ahead of the Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams playoff recreation earlier this month, the Better Business Bureau issued a warning to followers to be on “high alert” when shopping for tickets to main sporting occasions.
The BBB shared a number of suggestions for customers to keep in thoughts to avoid being turned away on the gate with a phony ticket – warning that rip-off emails and texts and pretend social media advertisements are in all places lately.
The Super Bowl is a scammer’s dream, in accordance to online security experts, and followers ought to be on “high alert” for fraudulent tickets and counterfeit web sites. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Consumers reported dropping more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 – a 25% soar from the earlier 12 months, in accordance to probably the most not too long ago out there Federal Trade Commission knowledge.
Avoid the screenshot rip-off
NFL groups are more and more requiring prospects to current digital tickets on the gate as a substitute of printing out their tix at home and bringing them to the stadium.
Mobile-only ticket entry is an “increased security measure, as well as a means of increasing operational efficiencies,” the NFL mentioned in a assertion on its web site.
“Mobile tickets allow for greater protection against fraudulent tickets, as the trail of a ticket can now be tracked digitally. Mobile tickets also can be shared easily and allow for quicker entry at the gate,” it added.
But customers can nonetheless fall sufferer to the screenshot rip-off when buying by means of a third-party vendor. Scammers take a screenshot of an precise recreation ticket after which “sell” it to many various prospects – who shall be turned away on the gate, because the ticket can solely be utilized by one individual.
The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to followers to be on “high alert” when shopping for tickets to main sporting occasions. AP
Beware of third-party sellers
The BBB additionally warned soccer followers to be skeptical of third-party sellers that seem to have a lot of tickets for sale, or offer tickets at unusually low costs.
Fraudulent web sites usually sell pretend tickets at extraordinarily low costs to lure people into giving up their credit card info, after which ship over counterfeit tickets.
They can look convincing, with their own distinctive barcodes – and followers will solely notice they’ve been duped when they’re stopped on the gate.
These websites additionally usually wait till the final minute to slap prospects with exorbitant charges – amassing all of your credit card info after which tacking on a enormous processing payment on the final web page.
Customers ought to verify rankings and opinions for any third-party sellers earlier than shopping for the tickets, or buy immediately from the stadium’s box workplace or NFL workforce’s official web site when doable.
If followers do buy from a third-party vendor, they need to verify to make sure the URL begins with “https” and has a lock image, which signifies it’s a secure tackle.
Customers also needs to solely store from ticket resellers with clear refund insurance policies on their websites.
Avoid resale apps and fee platforms
Football followers ought to be particularly cautious of resale apps like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and different websites that offer free online listings, since they’re overrun with scammers, in accordance to the BBB.
NFL groups are more and more requiring prospects to current digital tickets on the gate as a substitute of printing out their tickets at home. Getty Images
Customers also needs to avoid shopping for tix by means of platforms like Zelle, CashApp and Venmo, which ought to solely be used with trusted mates.
Fans ought to all the time use a credit card as a substitute of debit playing cards, wire transfers or money purchases, since credit card purchases are refundable if the ticket seems to be a rip-off.
Report scams
Experts urged prospects to contact their credit card company instantly in the event that they consider they’ve been defrauded to dispute the charge and order a refund.
Customers can report scams to the BBB and the FTC, as nicely as the venue’s box workplace, since some stadiums could observe fraud and offer help.
