With a demand for playoff hockey tickets at fever pitch in Vancouver, fans are being warned to be on the lookout for scammers.
The Better Business Bureau says some people are trying to take advantage of unwitting fans by selling counterfeit tickets or having buyers pay up front for tickets that never arrive.
Kingsley Bailey, a ticket broker for Vancouver Ticket Service, said the scenario often emerges when there are a large number of people competing for a limited quantity of prized tickets.
"And when that happens you tend to see not some of the best of people selling tickets that are not going to get you into the building," he told CTV News.
Scammers are using sites like Craigslist and Yahoo to sell fake tickets online.
Bailey said it's really buyer beware when it comes to buying tickets from anywhere other than the box office, or a recognized ticket resale agency.
"If it really is too good to be true, just walk away," he said.
Experts say it's important to know who you're buying your tickets from.
"You need to do the same level of scrutiny of someone who's selling you something, or if you were inviting them into your home to look after your kids," said Alexandra Samuel, an internet expert at Emily Carr University.
Samuel advises people to Google the email address and phone number of the seller. You might find positive feedback or comments, or signs to walk away.
"You can often find that people have a negative track record because you'll see references to that email address having been used in frauds," she said.
Online marketplace Craigslist advises consumers to deal only with local sellers, never wire money and never give out banking information.
If possible, buy from someone you've dealt with before, or use brokers with a permanent office.
The BBB also recommends looking for reputable ticket firms that provide buyer protections, including money back guarantees on the legitimacy of tickets.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's St John Alexander
