As the season of music and sunshine arrives, keep an eye out for scams that could cost you big.
There is nothing more joyous than grading tickets to see your favorite artist live . Whether you plan on attending a world stopping go like Renaissance or you are slog out the desert to watch Björk do atone of this twelvemonth ’s self-aggrandising festivals , it ’s a glorious time of year . But while so many citizenry are out frolicking in the sun , some people are plotting to scam . And unluckily , they are going to be scamming those of us who are just assay to call their favorite lyric poem at the top of their lung .
But , even with the risk of buying simulated tickets , phishing scams , bastard events , and the myriad other ways you’re able to miss your precious cash ( and power to see Beyoncé perform " Cuff It " ) there are way to protect yourself . Thrillist talk with Visa ’s Vice President and Global Head of Fraud Services , Michael Jabbara , to aid keep you and your money protected from chiseller this summertime .
Here ’s the essential advice you involve to have a go at it directly from the expert :
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Thrillist : Are concert and festival scams common?Michael Jabbara : Scammers are known to stick with the money , and because of concerts and festivals ' high popularity among consumers , schemes around these events are fair uncouth . This trend is becoming even more prevalent today , as in - mortal travel and event continue to rise to pre - pandemic degree .
How do I spot scams during festival season?When give away for fete and concert tag online , be wary of buying from match - to - peer resale grocery store as this channel can be more difficult to verify . Instead , prefer for leverage trusted and set up vendors . to boot , if an offer palpate too safe to be true , it ’s probably because it is .
Do your due industry and research average tag prices and the trafficker to avoid being scammed . For example , it may be good to debar any one - on - one offers or purchasing ticket on social spiritualist . Be wary of vendors seeking payment through cash , telegram transference , gift cards , or peer - to - peer apps as those defrayment methods are difficult to reverse / trace and can be indicative of deceitful bodily function .
What do I do if I am sold fake tickets?If you ’re sold faux tickets , a first great legal action is freeze the debit or credit notice that you used to purchase them and letting your card issuer know you ’ve been scammed . By freezing your card immediately , you may protect yourself from criminals trying to open up a new credit line or loan under your name . Your coin bank / card company can also monitor your card activeness and block any further purchases the scammer may institutionalize . to boot , you could also file a ill with watchdog institutions , such as theBetter Business Bureau(BBB ) and theFederal Trade Commission(FTC ) to prevent others from being scammed .
What other kinds of festival scams should I be on the lookout for?You should also be deliberate of domain spoof , where fraudsters personate known and logical businesses ( in this case ticket marketer or marketplaces ) to phish consumer into share their personal and payment information . check that to fit the links you ’re clicking on to corroborate the correct spelling and security configurations of the website ( have the URL begin with HTTPS ) .
Beyond tag scams , fitting - related fraud is another popular festival scam to be aware of . Be cautious about making reservations online and ensure you receive written ratification for your fitting . Additionally , change of location - related scams are also on the rise . In fact , according to theFederal Trade Commission , locomotion scams be consumer over $ 95 million in 2021 alone . When reserve traveling for out - of - state concert or festival , be mistrustful of brush aside flight of stairs and vacation deals from third - party platforms .
What are the best way to protect myself from scams?When it comes to protection , it pays to be proactive . Here are a few bakshish to follow to protect yourself from scam when snitch for concert tickets .
What should everyone planning on attending a music event this year know?With more venues conk cashless , fraudsters are out on the prowl like never before . In addition to the tip above , be cognizant of what you partake in on social media — location details , ticket info , etc . This is information that cybercriminals can employ to patch together and grab your personal information .
By following Jabbara ’s expert advice and proceed a healthy sense of skepticism , you ’ll hopefully make it through festival season without encountering any of these scams . I ca n’t guarantee that you wo n’t look at your own spending and feel dismay about the information . But money comes and goes — an unforgettable experience is forever .
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