Kifowit Works With Local Venues to Help Stop Online Ticket Scams

Caption: State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, center, joins state Rep Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, left, state Rep. Larry Walsh, D-Elwood, second from the left, and Rialto Square Theatre’s Director of Tickets and Internet Marketing Kari Mills, right, at a press conference raising awareness regarding online ticket scams on June 11 in Aurora. Kifowit spearheaded efforts in the legislature earlier this year to provide consumers additional protections when purchasing tickets from online brokers and resellers.

AURORA, Ill. – Following her passage of legislation designed to offer residents new protections from online ticket scams, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, visited the Paramount Theatre in Aurora on Thursday to highlight her legislative efforts and to offer customers tips on avoiding becoming victims.

“Families currently lack protections when purchasing tickets from online brokers and resellers, which leaves them vulnerable to becoming victims of scams,” Kifowit said. “This new legislation allows consumers to make ticket purchases with confidence knowing their investment is protected.”

In response to customers of Aurora’s Paramount Theatre being scammed by online ticket sellers pretending to be the theatre or charging exorbitant prices, Kifowit and Paramount president Tim Rater worked together to create legislation to require consumer protections in online ticket sales. Kifowit passed House Bill 3103 on May 31, which makes companies that resell tickets publicly state that they are not the event venue box office or its licensed ticket agent, so that consumers cannot mistakenly believe they are at the website of the venue. Consumers must be informed that lost or stolen tickets may only be reissued by the broker or reseller, and they must be given information about a refund policy for both the cost of the ticket and handling and delivery fees. Kifowit and Rater joined state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, state Rep. Larry Walsh, D-Elwood, and Rialto Square Theatre’s Director of Tickets and Internet Marketing Kari Mills at the Paramount Theatre Thursday to raise awareness of these scams and of the legislation awaiting the governor’s signature to become law.

“We couldn’t be happier about the ticket broker bill. We also couldn’t be more grateful for Rep. Kifowit’s diligence in working on the bill and working so hard to get it passed,” said Tim Rater, president and chief executive officer of the Paramount Theatre & RiverEdge Park. “This new law will not only help educate and protect our patrons, but patrons of all theaters and concert and sporting venues in Illinois.”

For more information, please contact Kifowit’s constituent service office by phone at 630-585-1308, by email at Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net, or by visiting www.ILDistrict84.com.