From STAFF REPORTS

ATLANTA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp recently warned football fans about ticket scams in preparation for the Dec. 2 SEC Championship game between the University of Georgia and the University of Auburn. Not surprisingly, the SEC recently stated that the game is sold out and fans will be trying to buy tickets on the secondary market. This creates an opportunity for scammers to exploit consumers through the sale of fake, void or stolen tickets. Not only can consumers lose money in these scams, they may also become victims of identity theft if they give a scammer their personal or financial information.
“Football fans, Secretary of State Brian Kemp and I share your excitement to watch UGA battle it out on the gridiron against Auburn,” said Carr in a recent statement. “If you are making preparations to attend the big game, we want to be sure you understand the possibility of ticket scams. Please protect yourself to avoid becoming a victim of these malicious practices.”
“Ticket scams are on the rise in Georgia with con artists eager to steal your money,” said Kemp. “Be vigilant when you buy tickets to the game. We do not want to see anyone get duped out of going to this important match-up.”
The press release included several tips to ensure that tickets are purchased through reputable sources.
– Check to see if the ticket broker is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). You can also search for complaints and online reviews about the business.
– Note that ticket brokers in Georgia must be registered with the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission and must include their license number in any Internet, broadcast or print advertising.
Be especially wary of buying tickets through Craigslist ads.
– Using a credit card on a reputable site offers greater protections against fraud than cash or debit cards; however, using a credit card through a non-reputable site will put your information at risk.
– Avoid wiring money to the seller, as this is often an indication of a scam.
– If purchasing tickets online, make sure the website begins with the prefix https://. This indicates that transactions are encrypted and protected against being intercepted by third parties.
– Be wary of deals that sound too good to be true. Scammers often try to lure consumers into turning over their money by offering tickets or merchandise at below-market rates.
– Protect your identity by refraining from posting pictures of your tickets online or on social media. Scammers can easily take the barcodes of an online post and use them to create fraudulent tickets and steal personal information.
Ticket brokers are required by Georgia law to register with the state and comply with other regulations. To verify a ticket broker’s license, visit sos.ga.gov, click on “Licensing,” and then “Search for a Licensee.” To file a complaint against a ticket broker, contact the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission at (404) 656-2868 or soscontact@sos.ga.gov.