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Westchester Residents Warned About Ticket Scams During Jeter's Final Games

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- With Yankees legend Derek Jeter playing in his final games at Yankee Stadium, State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman is warning Westchester residents to be wary of ticket scams.

Derek Jeter has three final games at Yankee Stadium -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Derek Jeter has three final games at Yankee Stadium -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Historically, major sporting events and concerts have seen spikes in scams aimed at duping consumers. During the Super Bowl last year, hundreds of fake tickets and tens of millions of dollars in counterfeit merchandise were seized by law enforcement officials.  

When purchasing second-hand tickets, consumers should do the following according to Schneiderman:

  • Check to see if the venue, sports team, or event has an official, verified source for buying and reselling tickets. The New York Yankees have an officially sanctioned ticket exchange that can be accessed online here.
  • Be wary of tickets that are printed at home. Even though a ticket looks authentic, it may not be.  Many venues allow consumers to print tickets from their personal computers. Scammers can sell the same ticket to multiple buyers. Based on the bar code, only the first buyer to show up at the venue will get in.  Counterfeiters can also reproduce bar codes – you may get into the venue, but then the real ticket holder shows up and you have to leave. When possible, seek out tickets printed by the venue.

  • Be wary of ticket prices that are too good to be true and of any high-pressure sales tactics.  Ask questions of the seller to verify that the tickets are legitimate.  Ask to see their proof of purchase. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

  • Avoid paying for tickets by cash, wire transfer or pre-paid money transfer. If the tickets turn out to be fake, it is highly unlikely you will get your money back.  If you pay by credit card or PayPal and the tickets turn out to be fake, you can dispute the charge.

  • If you buy from an online ticket broker, check out its reputation first through the Better Business Bureau and consumer complaint sites.  Tickets from reputable online brokers may be expensive, but they may come with added protections.  For example, some brokers will provide replacement tickets or full refunds if the tickets turn out to be fake.

  • Fake ticket scams are more common for popular events, when the demand is high.?

Anyone who feels they have been victimized by a ticket scam should contact the attorney general at 1-800-771-7755.

To purchase authentic tickets online, click here to access the New York Yankees Ticket Exchange.

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