Make sure it’s all fun when attending festivals this summer

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/07/2024 (535 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s heating up in Manitoba, and with it comes the promise of prototypical summer events: festivals, get-togethers and outdoor events are aplenty. With so many Manitobans ready to punch their tickets to concerts, festivals and other events, it’s a good time to pause and ensure your anticipated outing will be all that it was promised to be.

The Better Business Bureau’s ScamTracker has seen a rise in live event scams. This means the ticket in your wallet may be fake or the event to which it gives you access may be non-existent or much less than advertised. If you’re wondering how this may have come to be, think about the ad that brought you to the ticket purchase page. Did it promise lots of extras like food or drink and access to exclusive activities for an extremely low price? That could be your first sign that something’s not right. While many legitimate events offer good pricing on admission, anything that seems too good to be true probably is.

Another trick scammers employ are sophisticated social media ads and professional-looking websites. With an advance in technology and artificial intelligence, creating these convincing fake events has become almost too easy. And when the promise of a much-needed mini getaway is dangled in front of us, with images of other people appearing to have the times of their lives, it’s easy to throw caution to the wind.

There are a few things you should do to ensure you don’t become the next victim. Be sure to research the event before you purchase tickets to it. Search the name online and match it to the advertisement word-for-word. Scammers often use names that sound similar to those of real festivals or live events.

If the name matches and you’re sure it’s a real festival, be sure the site you are on is the verified site for that event. Instead of following a link on a social media or online marketplace ad, find the event independently online. Check the webpage for a working phone number and email address and don’t hesitate to try out those forms of contact before buying. Also be sure the site has an “s” at the end of “http” or a lock in the corner. This means the site is secure.

Visit the BBB’s ScamTracker and type in the name of the event to see if others have reported it as fake.

To add an extra layer of security, make the purchase on your credit card so that if you later find out it’s fraud, you can report it as such and try to get your money back.

Sometimes, scammers use fake ticket sites to collect money from people wanting to see a well-known artist in their city. Be sure to always use verified ticket sales sites. If you’ve never used a particular site before, enter it into ScamTracker and see what others have said about it.

As you head out into the sunshine for a summer of fun, be sure to take an extra minute so that it stays that way.