The arrival of another Super Bowl brings more opportunities for scammers. Ticket and merchandise scams can punch a hole in anyone’s defensive line if they are not careful. Your Better Business Bureau (BBB) has huddled up and devised some plans to help you reach your goal of maximized Super Bowl enjoyment without getting sacked by a scammer.

Know who you 

are dealing with

The Internet provides a variety of ways to get your tickets. Some are legitimate and some are not. There are two important sources for you to rely on when you are considering purchasing a ticket. 

First, check out the seller or broker at bbb.org. Last year BBB received almost 400 reports on BBB Scam Tracker about scammers selling sports, concert or theatre tickets illegitimately. Actually, the number of rip-offs was considerably higher because many people do not bother to report their experiences. 

Second, see if the seller or broker is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB). Go to VerifiedTicketSource.com to look them up. The NATB offers a 200% purchase guarantee on all tickets sold by their members.

When buying tickets online, it’s vital that you buy from vendors you know and trust. Look at the web address field to see if there is a lock symbol. That’s how you know they have a secure purchasing system. Emails or online ads should be avoided. If you click through the links they contain, you could arrive at a look-alike website designed to fool you into thinking it is legitimate. You also run the risk of downloading malware onto your device from such sites.

Remember tips to keep purchases within bounds

• When possible, purchase from the venue.

• Know the refund policy. The seller should provide clear details such as precise location of seats and when the tickets will be shipped or be available for pickup.

• Pay with a credit card for added protection. Debit cards, wire transfers, cashier’s checks or cash payments are all risky. You will not be able to get your money back from such transactions, should there be a problem with your tickets.

• Know the signs of a fake website. Misspellings and grammar errors are giveaways that the site is from an overseas counterfeiter.

• Watch out for offers that look too good to be true. Unusually low prices or unusually great seat locations can be an indication of fraud. Sound too good to be true? It is probably a fake offer.

Merchandise sales

If you are looking for team merchandise, always start with local stores. The NFL website is also a good source. You want to make sure the merchandiser is legitimate. Super low prices can indicate counterfeit items, as can zigzagged or irregular stitches on NFL branded clothing. Cheap, light material is another sign of a fake. Remember: there are no guarantees when you buy from Craigslist or eBay sellers.