Don't Swing at a Playoff Ticket Scammer's Pitch
MADISON – Looking to get tickets to see the Brew Crew make a postseason run? So are many other Wisconsinites. Playoff tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. this morning, and history tells us that scammers may use this demand to pitch fake ticket scams. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) asks Milwaukee Brewers fans to seek tickets from official sources and to be on the lookout for phony ticket offers.
“When there is demand for playoff tickets, scammers come out of the woodwork to rip off excited sports fans,” said Michelle Reinen, Director for the Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, sellers offering ticket printouts or photocopies, and requests to pay by wire transfer or pre-paid debit card.”
Reputable tickets are available through the official Major League Baseball (MLB) sales channels:
· online at brewers.com/postseason;
· by phone via the Brewers ticket office (414-902-4000); or
· by using the official MLB Ballpark app on your smartphone.
All single-game postseason tickets will be delivered digitally via the MLB Ballpark app on game day. Official paper tickets will not be issued.
DATCP offers these additional tips to avoid becoming a victim of ticket fraud:
· If you are looking to buy secondhand tickets, remember that if the ticket you buy is a fake, you will not be allowed into the game and you will be out your hard-earned cash.
o Miller Park has a designated “Ticket Resale Zone” located adjacent to Helfaer Field where individuals can sell tickets to interested parties. Individuals who resell tickets outside of this designated area are considered to be trespassing on private property and may be engaged by Milwaukee Brewers security staff.
o MLB partners with StubHub (stubhub.com) to provide a reliable secondhand ticket marketplace. StubHub offers some protections for buyers, but make sure to read the terms and conditions of your purchase before you submit your order.
· If you are buying from a third-party dealer, ask specific questions about the seats and verify that the seat location exists in the stadium. Fake tickets may include misspellings, have low-resolution graphics, and be short on details about the event. Make sure the ticket includes the correct date, time, location, and seating details.
· Use a secure method of payment such as a credit card rather than cash, check, or debit card to purchase tickets since it may provide some protection if you do not receive the tickets. Do not give out your credit card number to someone you don’t know or trust.
· If you plan to buy tickets from an online classified ad, ask to meet the seller in person at a police station. If the seller refuses, it is likely a scam.
For additional information, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau at datcp.wi.gov, send an e-mail to datcphotline@wi.gov, or call the Consumer Information Hotline at (800) 422-7128.
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