49ers tickets are in high demand for the playoff game this Saturday and scammers are sure to take notice. Unfortunately for fans, attendance may now require purchases from third-party brokers. The Better Business Bureau warns fans to use caution when making purchases through undisclosed agents.
"Big sporting events always bring out the scammers," said Gary Almond, president of BBB serving Northeast California. "Buyers need to know who the seller is and where their money is going."
Most problems occur with private dealers on websites like Craigslist and eBay. Some fans wire money and never receive tickets, while others are turned away from the game when their tickets are found to be counterfeit.
The BBB advises 49ers fans to remember the following when seeking last minute tickets:
-Be wary of buying from someone on the street. You may wind up at the gate with fake tickets.
-When buying tickets online, verify the seller's legitimacy. Search for the site on bbb.org and review its business record to see if and how they respond to complaints.
- Make sure the payment processing page is secured, denoted by an "https://" at the beginning of the web address.
- When buying tickets through an auction site, choose a trusted seller with positive recent reviews.
- If you are buying through an online classified site, do not wire money. There will be no way of retrieving money if the tickets do not arrive or are counterfeit.
Before doing business with a company, check its business review at www.necal.bbb.org or by calling 916-443-6843.