BBB How to Sack Super Bowl LIII Scams
With all the excitement surrounding Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, February 3rd, Better Business Bureau Serving Acadiana warns consumers that scammers will be eager to take advantage of unsuspecting fans.
Those participating in the celebration of Super Bowl LIII, BBB has your playbook on how to play defensively when purchasing tickets, hotel rooms, and NFL merchandise.
Tickets. At this point in the game, coming across tickets to the Super Bowl may require going through sellers and brokers - and people need to be cautious when doing so. If you need to go through a seller or a broker to buy your tickets to the Super Bowl, make sure to look them up on bbb.org to see what other customers have experienced. It’s also a good idea to check if they are a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB). NATB members offer a 200% guarantee on tickets that don’t arrive in time for a game, concert or show.
Other tips to keep in mind when shopping for tickets are:
Know the difference between a ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited reseller) and a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller).
Look for secure websites when buying tickets. Look for a website with the padlock on the page and ‘https’ at the start of the page’s web address.
Ask the seller where he or she is located. Also, ask how he or she can be contacted after the sale. If the seller is elusive, don’t pursue the offer.
Ask for a picture of the tickets so you can confirm the tickets match the venue. Check out the seats ahead of time to avoid obstructed view seats or seats that do not exist.
Always use a credit card so you have some recourse if the tickets are not as promised. Never wire money or pay with a cashier’s check. You’ll have no way of getting your tickets or money back.
Hotels. Super Bowl LIII will be hosted in Atlanta, Georgia this year. If buying tickets for the big game is out of the question, the second best move for fans looking to support their team would be to rent a hotel room in the area. Look through Accredited hotels in Atlanta, Georgia to find last-minute bookings you can trust.
Merchandise. There’s a high demand for NFL merchandise during the playoffs, and consumers become desperate to not only find the exact item they are looking for, but to find it at a reasonable price. Scammers are known to sell fake merchandise from third-party websites that they bank on consumers to turn to once popular apparel starts running out in particular sizes.
For fans looking to purchase jerseys and other merchandise for the Super Bowl this year, make sure to shop with a legitimate business. Visit anAccredited sportswear-store near you or shop directly on the NFL website.
If you believe you have purchased a counterfeit ticket, immediately report it to the NATB at 630-510-4594 and file a complaint with your local BBB at bbb.org.
and dietary supplements you may be taking.
"Look for the Seal” and Start with Trust®. BBB Serving Acadiana is a private non-profit organization. BBB strives for a trustworthy marketplace by maintaining standards for truthful advertising, investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses.
Please contact Better Business Bureau at bbb.org 24 hours a day for information on businesses throughout North America. Consumers can also sign up for our free BBB “Scoop” eNewsletter by visiting bbb.org and clicking on the “Programs & Services” tab.
BBB Serving Acadiana services the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Landry and Vermilion.