© 2024 WUGA | University of Georgia
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

State officials warn the Dawgs of SEC Championship ticket scams

Dawg fans hoping to score a last-minute ticket to Saturday’s sold-out Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship Game should beware of online ticket scams, according to the Attorney General’s office and the Better Business Bureau of North Georgia (BBB).

In 2021, BBB of North Georgia received upwards of 15,500 complaints of online ticket scams and they expect this year’s numbers to set a record due to a growing number of fraudulent secondary ticket sites.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and BBB of North Georgia have a game-day checklist for fans wanting to cheer on the reigning national champions in Atlanta.

  1. Never trust sellers who approach you at the ticket gates -- most of their tickets are fake. Instead, try using a ticket broker through the National Association of Ticket Brokers. All members are required to guarantee ticket legitimacy.
  2. Avoid buying tickets through Craigslist.
  3. Do not wire money to the seller, as this is often an indication of a scam.
  4. Be cautious of deals that sound too good to be true. Scammers often offer tickets at below-market rates to trick buyers.
  5. Never post pictures of your tickets online or on social media. Scammers can loot barcodes in online posts and create fraudulent tickets, or steal personal information.
  6. Ticket brokers are legally required to register with the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. To verify a broker’s license, go to sos.ga.gov and hit “Licensing,” and then “Licensee Search.”

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division reminds fans to file an online complaint with their office or call 404-651-8600 to report fraudulent tickets.