Community Corner
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Events to see Pope Francis are free, but watch out for train ticket fraud, price gouging, parking scams & more.
Bucks County Office of Consumer Protection (BCOCP) is warning residents that scams are arising as unscrupulous people try to make money off those of all faiths – estimated to be 1.5 to 2 million – who are eager to see the head of the Catholic Church during his papal visit to Philadelphia September 26 and 27.
This is a free, open-air event that anyone may attend, so you need not buy a ticket to get a glimpse of Pope Francis. According to Kenneth Gavin of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, “The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 will be aggressively monitoring for counterfeit/black market ‘tickets.’” So if you’re seeing tickets on Stub Hub or other such sites, these are not legitimate.
BCOCP suggests visitors regularly check the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for the latest, most accurate news as events are finalized. And as the itinerary is completed, you can also check the websites of the archdioceses the pope plans to visit – Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York.
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Other scams to look out for:
Train ticket scams. With the lottery system SEPTA has put into place to purchase public transportation tickets for this event, be cautious of “tickets for sale” on Craigslist and other websites asking for wire-transfers to order your tickets.
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Price-gouging. Be aware that you will get hungry and thirsty. To avoid paying exorbitant costs for food and beverages, plan ahead and bring your own snacks and drinks.
Sale of religious memorabilia. Remember that items sellers are “guaranteeing” were touched, blessed or endorsed by the Pope are very likely not.
Parking scams. Owners of small private lots near the events and close to local train stations will take this opportunity to “make a buck or two.” To be safe rather than sorry, look for parking in a well-lit, secure location.
If you believe you have been scammed, report it to Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800.441.2555 or file a complaint online.
If you have additional questions relating to this potential for scams, please call Bucks County Office of Consumer Protection at 215.348.6060 or email.
photo courtesy Getty Images
