Avoid Super Bowl Ticket Scams

The Super Bowl is not just a football game it’s a worldwide party event. Over 100 million people around the world will watch the game via television and depending on the venue; as many as 100,000 fans watch it live. Super Bowl tickets are always in great demand and usually cost the buyer quite a bit more than the actual face value of the ticket. With the demand being so great, and technology getting more sophisticated every year, there has been an emergence of fraud and forgery in the business of Super Bowl ticket sales.

One of the driving forces that contribute to high prices and forgery is the NFL system for allocating tickets. Only 500 pairs of tickets are made available to fans and that process is via a lottery. Beyond that, tickets are distributed to the participating teams and every other NFL team. The NFL itself holds about 25% of the tickets and distributes them to VIP’s, the media, corporate sponsors and any other entity that they see fit. That creates the demand, which drives prices up and gives the forgers and scam artists an opportunity to make a fast buck at the expense of the fans. If you are an NFL fan who wants to experience one of the world’s great sporting events, then you should take the time to know what to look for when purchasing Super Bowl tickets and Super Bowl ticket packages.

The ticket itself can tell a potential buyer if there is any reason to be suspicious. The NFL Super Bowl ticket is printed on a very sturdy cardboard stock, with the corners and perforated edges perfectly centered and cut. Look for any blurry or irregular markings and text, as well as checking out the hologram on the back of the ticket. The hologram should change images when tilted and will be a part of the ticket itself, and not a sticker. The official Super Bowl ticket will be a glossy, high quality keepsake and anything that resembles something less is more than likely counterfeit. The NFL has tried to do a better job in recent years of stifling the counterfeiters by not releasing the design of the ticket until just before their distribution. With little time, counterfeiters have difficulty in producing a high quality fake to take advantage of unsuspecting fans.

There are stories every year about NFL fans getting scammed on Craig’s List, eBay, newspaper ads, and fly by night web sites that promise to deliver tickets, but never do. These scam artists are very savvy and can be difficult to detect, especially for fans that do not have experience buying from alternative sources. When looking for tickets online, do some research on the seller, whether it’s an individual or a ticket broker. Look at a seller’s rating, past feedback, and membership time when checking out Super Bowl tickets on an auction site. You should also contact the Better Business Bureau to find out if any complaints have been filed for fraud against the source you are considering buying from. Online sources can be a great place to purchase tickets or ticket packages that include hotel rooms, restaurant reservations and other amenities. Most sources will be legitimate, but it only takes overlooking a detail or two to turn your experience into a nightmare.

When looking to ticket specialists on the internet, find out as much information as you can about the site itself. Longevity, former customer references, Better Business Bureau data, and the ability to accept payment by protected means such as credit card or Pay Pal can be very important in avoiding problems. Don’t hesitate to call the web site directly and ask as many specific questions as a person who is in the business of selling event tickets should be able to answer. If the provider is also selling hotel accommodations and restaurant reservations, contact those venues to make sure that they do have rooms and tables booked and reserved for Super Bowl week in that company’s name.

There are some people who may wait until the last minute and count on buying a Super Bowl ticket from a seller at the game. This is very risky, as you have no time to find out about the person you are buying from, and there will be no fraud protection in a cash exchange. As noted earlier, the ability to create a replica of an event ticket is getting easier for scam artists. All the counterfeiter has to do is to create a ticket that is passable in a pinch and they can literally steal thousands of dollars in a short amount of time. Don’t count on being able to locate a counterfeit seller after you’ve been refused at the door. On Super Bowl Sunday in 2012, there will be tens of thousands of people moving around Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the odds of finding the person who sold you the fraudulent ticket won’t be very good.

Going to a big ticket event, such as the Super Bowl, should be a memorable and fun. Don’t let fraud ruin what can be one of the greatest moments in a football fans life. Buy with confidence from a reputable seller and enjoy the biggest NFL stars on the biggest stage, the Super Bowl!