Press release courtesy Oregon Attorney General John Kroger

With the enthusiasm for the upcoming Civil War football game between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University comes an increased risk of fake ticket sales.  Con artists and scammers routinely try to capitalize off of highly anticipated events to pad their own wallets.  Selling counterfeit tickets is illegal.  Below are some tips offered by the Oregon Department of Justice and Attorney General John Kroger to help consumers avoid purchasing fake tickets.  

1. It’s best to purchase tickets from a reputable ticket distributor. These companies will guarantee the validity of the ticket and on-time delivery.
    
2. When possible, use a credit card for any online purchase. If the tickets you purchased are never delivered, not in the advertised section, or counterfeit, consumers can dispute the charge.
    
3. If using Craigslist or eBay, meet the seller face-to-face at a public place. Ask questions about the seats and seller. Get reliable contact information from the sellers in case the tickets are counterfeit. 
    
4. Never wire money to individuals you do not know.
    
5. Confirm that the location of your seat corresponds with a section, row and seat in the stadium. 
    
6. Get a good sense of what the general ticket prices are, and be highly suspicious of any offers out of that general range.  Scammers often use the lure of cheaper tickets to take consumer’s money.  If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
7. Unless you are using a reputable ticket distributor, be highly skeptical of purchasing tickets sight unseen. 
    
8. Purchase tickets before going to the game.  Scammers use color printers to create very real looking tickets.  Often, these scammers try to sell their fake tickets at the game for quick cash, to fans desperate to get into the game.  

 
Attorney General John Kroger and the Oregon Department of Justice are committed to protecting Oregon’s marketplace and keeping scammers on the sidelines.  If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a fake ticket scam, please call the Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.