PITTSBURGH \u2014 As the Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 Round 1 playoff game against the Philadelphia Flyers approaches, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and the office\u2019s Bureau of Consumer Protection are warning of ticket scams. <\/p>\n
\u201cScammers will take advantage of high-demand sports matchups by selling fake tickets and merchandise. I encourage everyone to pause before making purchases, and follow the tips from my Bureau of Consumer Protection so you can enjoy the playoffs,\u201d Sunday said in a press release.<\/p>\n
The AG\u2019s office is asking consumers to consider the following tips:<\/p>\n
Watch the websites you visit. As a consumer, you should not click on banner ads or pop-ups on a legitimate website that may take you to a third party website. You lose all protections and guarantees once you leave a legitimate website in favor of discounted tickets or other promises somewhere else.\u00a0Review your cart before checking out\u00a0when purchasing tickets through a website. Some online ticket resale platforms may charge fees at checkout.\u00a0 Review your purchase prior to hitting the final checkout button for any additional charges and fees added to the final purchase price.\u00a0Be cautious of using search engines to find potential ticket sellers. Less reputable websites offering ticket sales will ramp up advertising before events like the playoffs, increasing their website traffic. Stick to websites you are familiar with, and read the URL of the website you visit. Scam artists often make minor changes to an actual website\u2019s URL to bring a false sense of legitimacy to the website \u2013 a practice known as spoofing. Look for spelling or grammatical mistakes \u2013 a tip-off to fake websites.\u00a0Avoid buying tickets from someone you have not met.\u00a0Do not buy tickets from a seller you don\u2019t know. Always try to conduct any ticket purchase in a safe, well lit area. Consumers can also search for \u201cSafe Transaction Locations\u201d online. Police stations provide an environment for safe transactions.\u00a0Be wary of sellers asking for payment in gift cards, money orders, cryptocurrency or wire transfers, especially over the phone. Consumers should use their credit cards when possible to protect themselves from scammers and fraud.\u00a0Trust your common sense.\u00a0If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This is especially true with travel packages that promise airfare, accommodations, and tickets at incredibly low prices. Do your homework and investigate the seller before buying.<\/p>\n
The Bureau of Consumer Protection also advises that if you have made an unfulfilled purchase with your credit card, to contact the credit card company and dispute the charge as soon as possible. <\/p>\n
If you believe you have been a victim of a ticket, travel service, or merchandise scam can file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General\u2019s Bureau of Consumer Protection by visiting www.attorneygeneral.gov<\/a>, by emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling 1-800-441-2555.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n