Sports
Chicago Cubs Fans, Beware of Postseason Ticket Scams: Better Business Bureau
The agency gives tips to avoid being swindled out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars on fake playoff tickets.
CHICAGO, IL — With expectations for postseason glory high, many Chicago Cubs fans are desperate to score game tickets so they can say they were a part of a historic season that hopefully will end with a World Series title.
But that kind of demand for a limited amount of tickets doesn't just create sky-high prices in the resale market. It also creates opportunities for scammers looking to get rich quick.
Currently, there's a staggering price range for tickets for the Cubs' first playoff game — Friday night's Game 1 of the National League Division Series — on StubHub, the online ticket resale site. Fans looking to attend that game can find seats for as cheap as $169 or as astronomical as $50,000 for two infield terrace spots. Even standing room only tickets are seeing prices as high as $9,999 and $250,000.
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"Illegal ticket sellers know that fan fever can often cloud common sense and smart buying," said Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Chicago-area branch of the Better Business Bureau. "People need to be careful so they are not ripped-off by bad guys selling fake tickets and poor quality, unlicensed merchandise."
What can fans do to protect themselves from being bilked out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars on fake Cubs playoff tickets? The Better Business Bureau has these tips:
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- Watch out for too-good-to-be-true deals.
- Go to reputable ticket brokers and licensed websites and avoid scalpers. Buyers can search the bureau's database for accredited businesses.
- Use a credit card when possible. That way you have a better chance of getting your money back if you're scammed by disputing the charge with the credit card company.
The bureau also encourages consumers to report any businesses they feel cheated them or used unfair practices to authorities and to the agency's Scam Tracker.
image via Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball
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