Watch Out for Fake Vikings-Packers Tickets

The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning for NFL fans in our area. It's no secret that the demand for Vikings tickets is extremely high this season.  People are excited to see the team in the new stadium. Minnesota's first home game at the new stadium is against their archenemy Green Bay and scammers will be trying to take advantage of fans right up until kickoff.

The BBB is reminding everyone that they run the risk of losing a lot of money when they buy tickets from questionable sources.

“We hear too often about hopeful fans who discover to their dismay they’ve paid top dollar for phony tickets online or from game day scalpers,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota.

To avoid getting tripped up by scammers, BBB recommends you:

• Choose a reputable online ticket broker. Only the Vikings ticket office, Ticketmaster and the NFL TicketExchange (nfl.com/tickets) can guarantee the ticket you purchase online will be valid to attend the event. When purchasing tickets through any other online brokers, look for the BBB seal on their website and research them online at bbb.org. Review the company’s track record and what their policy is if tickets purchased through their site are fake or not as advertised. When buying tickets online, pay with a credit card.

• Be leery of buying from scalpers at the event. Buying tickets near the venue on game day can be a dangerous game of roulette. The seats may be just as advertised or you might find yourself locked out of the stadium and also out whatever money you paid.

• Never wire money to someone you don’t know. If you find a seller online that claims to have tickets to the game, be very careful. Any request by the seller to have you wire money to pay for the tickets should be the red flag that makes you walk away. This is virtually always the sign of a scam.

On their website, the Vikings offer these additional tips:

• Always check with the Vikings Ticket Office or the ticket booths to see if tickets are available.
• The Vikings have two types of authorized tickets: accessible through the Vikings Mobile App or printed (8 ½ x 11) PDF tickets.
• Vikings tickets are not sold on hard ticket stock. If you are buying tickets on the street and they are hard ticket stock, they are fake.
• If you are buying tickets on the street, scrutinize them closely for inaccuracies or alterations. Cross-check the seat assignment and prices with a stadium map found on the Vikings Mobile App.

• Ask the person who is selling tickets on the street if you could take a picture of him/her with their valid ID before the transaction. If they refuse, move on.

Finally, use common sense. If the deal sounds too good to be true, the offer is likely a scam.