While the demand for tickets to this weekend's Grey Cup are red hot, so is the potential for fans to get ripped off if they decide to gamble on a less than reputable source for tickets.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says it's crunch time for scammers to try their "usual tricks" to pawn off bogus or counterfeit tickets.
"Scammers know what the hot tickets are and search out fans who are so excited that they might not recognize the signs of a scam," said BBB CEO Lynda Pasacreta.
To avoid being ripped off, the BBB lists these red flags:
- Believing that you're lucky: With a sold out game, it's a slim to impossible chance that you're going to find a deal on tickets. The BBB says if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Wiring money to a stranger: The agency says consumers should never wire money to someone they don't know. And customers should always buy tickets through a secure website.
- Not doing research: If you're buying tickets online be sure to ask to see a picture of the tickets to ensure the ones you're buying actually match the ones at the venue. Ask around to make sure you know what the real tickets look like.
- Buying from scalpers: The BBB says buying from scalpers can be a game of roulette, where you may end up with great tickets – or get taken to the cleaners.
Choosing a shady online broker: Make sure to check out your ticket broker online through the BBB's website and take a look at their customer satisfaction policy and what happens if the purchase ends up to be fraudulent.
Ideally, consumers should always pay for tickets with a credit card because of the consumer protections provided.
Watch CTV News for a full report from Lynda Steele…
