HOUSTON – Whether you're trying to score some tickets to a sold out Texans game or the upcoming Madonna concert, buying tickets from someone you don't know can be a risky move.
There are a lot of options online, but prices can be crazy and scammers are lurking. So how do you know who you can trust?
Ads are all over Craigslist and ticker broker websites. The question is how much are you willing to pay and will you get a legitimate ticket to get in?
Barbi Brittan bought tickets for the Taylor Swift concert at Minute Maid Park from a seller on Craigslist. But the tickets turned out to be bogus, and her daughter was devastated.
"We get in line. We hand the tickets to the person who is scanning, and she says, 'The tickets won't scan. You need to go to the ticket resolution, line, which was around the corner.' I don't want anyone else to ever be scammed like this," Brittan said.
Mike Peduto has been brokering tickets for 30 years. He knows there are scammers out there. So, he urges people not to pay cash to random sellers. He recommends you steer clear of any site that demands payment by wire transfer and avoid sites where you can't speak to the seller.
"If you can't reach them, especially by phone, that's pretty much a giveaway that they're not going to have the same level of customer service as somebody local," Peduto said.
If you're going to buy online, look for someone that's a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers, which holds companies to a strict code of conduct and offers some recourse if something goes wrong.
Peduto said a good broker can help you find the best seats possible. He also said you can find better deals by waiting until just a couple days before the event.
"I would say more often than not, the prices come down as you get closer. One thing I would say, if you only need two tickets, waiting until the last minute, you can sometimes save some money," Peduto said.
Use a credit card for the transaction. That way, if the tickets are counterfeit, you may be able to get your money back or dispute the charge through your credit card company.
Angie Hicks, of Angie's List, said beware of extra fees attached to online transactions. A lot of times, you won't notice them until you're just about ready to pay.
"Comparing prices actually can be difficult, because when you're looking at prices, you may not realize the final price until you go through the checkout funnel with added fees," Hicks said.
Make sure to review the terms of sale on the broker's website, so you know exactly what to expect. Check the tickets as soon as you get them to make sure there are no mistakes. Don't wait until the day of the event.