Lansing, MI - Detroit is hosting the NFL Draft for the first time since its inception in 1936. This three-day event is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of football fans from across the country into the state, which unfortunately will also attract bad actors seeking to scam residents of their hard-earned money, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns.
In advance of the event, Nessel is reissuing her Online Ticket Purchasing alert to help residents spot a phony sale.
General entry to the NFL Draft events is currently free and only requires fans to register on the NFL One Pass app, or through the Draft website. However, there are VIP tickets for sale which are listed from hundreds to thousands of dollars. There are also associated events held throughout downtown Detroit that are free to attend.
“Unsuspecting fans could pay money for a ticket that was otherwise free or spend hundreds, or even thousands, on what turns out to be a phony screenshot of a ticket that doesn't exist or has previously been sold,” Nessel said. “If you’re buying tickets for the NFL Draft, make sure the tickets you pay for aren’t available for free through the app, or that you’re using a trusted site to purchase authentic tickets which will actually get you into the VIP amenities.”
Bad actors have several ways to scam ticket-buyers and ticket-sellers out of their money, including payment or money app scams.
Payment app scams involve peer-to-peer (P2P) money apps like Apple Pay, Cash App, Circle Pay, Facebook Payments, Google Pay, PayPal, Square Cash, PopMoney, Zelle, and Venmo. P2P payment services are apps that require both parties to have an active user account and each account must be tied to a bank or credit card account. Once created, the pay app allows users to send money to other users by searching for their phone number, email address, or username. The money is instantly transferred electronically, and the transactions are usually free.
The attorney general has some tips to protect consumers when buying tickets online.
- Know the vendor: Consumers are encouraged to make sure they are buying from a reputable website, especially before providing any personal financial information. Anyone can set up a "spoof" website with a web address that is similar to the legitimate ticket seller's address. Aside from potential licensing and trademark violations, "spoof" websites may offer consumers overpriced or counterfeit tickets and expose the consumer to identity theft.
- Conduct research: Consumers unfamiliar with a particular ticket vendor can call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team at 877-765-8388 and ask if we have any complaints on file regarding that seller. Remember, however, that the absence of filed complaints does not guarantee a seller's legitimacy; it simply means that the Consumer Protection Team has not received any complaints concerning the vendor. As an additional resource, consumers can research the ticket seller on the Better Business Bureau's national website.
- Use credit: If purchasing tickets online, especially via an online auction site, it is recommended that consumers complete their transaction using a credit card. Purchasing tickets with a credit card often provides consumers with protections that they would not otherwise have if they purchased the tickets using cash, check, or apps like Venmo and Cash App. Added protections with credit include the ability to dispute a charge if an event is canceled, or if they receive counterfeit tickets that a venue refuses to honor. Try to choose sellers with long histories of satisfied customers, and make sure the online bid amount is listed in American dollars.
- Shop securely: If a website begins with "https," the "s" indicates that the website is "secure." Typically, the "s" will not appear in the web address until consumers access the order page of the site where they are asked to enter their personal information. Another indicator of a secure website is a graphic of a closed lock located at the bottom of the screen. Secure websites take precautions to ensure that others cannot see and copy the personal information consumers provide.
To file a complaint with the Attorney General, or get additional information, contact:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form