The World Cup, soccer's most popular international tournament, began on June 11. The tournament, featuring 48 teams, spans more than 39 days with matches taking place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
If you're a soccer fan, this is an excellent opportunity to catch the action live. That is, if you can afford the higher ticket prices. I recently checked, and the average ticket price for the U.S. vs Paraguay match on July 12 in Los Angeles starts around $850 per ticket on the resale market.
There is good news, though. Ticket prices are decreasing as demand wanes, making the resale market more attractive to soccer fans. But that also creates an opportunity for scammers, who use these events to clean up. Here's a peek into how scammers trick you into their ploys.
Look for these things before you buy
"There's an element of urgency that should be an immediate red flag," Ben Farrow, a partner at Anderson, Williams, & Farrow, told Kiplinger.
If someone messages you on a social media app such as Facebook, promising a can't-miss deal on World Cup tickets, there's a high likelihood it's a scam.
Thieves use persuasive language to add an element of urgency. When prices are high for a coveted event, such as the World Cup, it's easy to let caution fall to the wayside when a deal seems too good to pass up.
Scammers use QR codes and AI to trick buyers
Another thing to watch for is when the seller asks you to scan a QR code, which usually opens a website where you can purchase tickets and check out. But before checking out, check out the website.
"Scammers will use AI tools to make landing pages look legit. But if you take some time to review the website, they omit pertinent details, such as business location, contact information, etc," remarked Farrow.
The fake giveaway
Thieves use other ploys to entice people into buying fraudulent tickets. One of the more common is fake giveaways.
You might find a company advertising free World Cup tickets if you enter their sweepstakes. You click the link, only to be taken to a fake website where hackers could steal your information.
If it feels like something is off, then it likely is. Knowing where to buy vs where not to can help you avoid some of these encounters.
Where's the worst place to buy World Cup tickets?
"Social media," Farrow said. The problem with social media is that you have acquaintances you might have met once, but you don't really know them. They reach out with cheap tickets, and it's tempting to take the bait, but that's where you need to pause to really think things through.
Instead, look for legitimate resellers. How do you find them? Start with FIFA's ticket market.
If those sell out or you need another option, try the National Association of Ticketing Professionals. You can use their member feature to find reputable ticket resellers by company name. If they're unable to fulfill your order for some reason, you'll receive up to a 200% refund of the contracted price.
The risks are real. According to LegalShield’s World Cup ticket scam report, 36% of victims said they had a "verified" ticket rejected at the gate as fraudulent, while 68% reported buying so-called "ghost tickets," when the seller never had the tickets in the first place.
Additionally, when you purchase your World Cup tickets, Farrow recommends using a credit card. If things go south, you have fraud protection.
However, timing does matter. Credit card companies give you 60 days to dispute a charge. If you buy illegitimate soccer tickets, contact your credit card company promptly, or you could lose money.
Do I have any legal recourse against ticket scammers?
"If you get scammed, your legal options are terrible," remarked Farrow. "If you can find the scammer and take them to court, then great, but chances are, you're not going to find them."
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything. "There are options available, where you can file reports with state agencies, the FTC or your state's attorney general," Farrow added. While that might not get you your money back, it could change things moving forward.
Farrow continued, "Think of it this way: Do you still receive a ton of calls about extended auto warranties? No, and that's because enough people complained."
The same applies to ticketing scams. While you might feel embarrassed in the moment, filing complaints won't get your money back, but over time, it could create change that prevents it from happening to you again.
Ultimately, the World Cup is a huge boon at a time when the sport is increasing in popularity in the U.S. With ticket prices dropping on the resale market, it creates a buyer frenzy as the tournament approaches.
To avoid being scammed, know the scammers' playbook. Avoid buying tickets on social media, use legitimate resellers, and pay with your credit card. Doing these things ensures you receive a legitimate ticket to the action, so you're not sitting on the sidelines after losing thousands of dollars.
