How to avoid ticket scams: what I told Fox 5 DC

Short answer: Buy from the original seller whenever you can, pay with a credit card so you can dispute a fraudulent charge, and plan ahead with waitlists and ticket lotteries. If you buy resale, know who you're buying from. Simply knowing you're taking a risk on the secondary market is an important part of buying.

When Beyoncé announced her Renaissance Tour, I joined hosts Marina Marraco and Joe Clair on Fox 5 DC to talk about the demand for tickets, Ticketmaster's earlier trouble with bots and fraud, and how fans could avoid getting scammed. The advice still holds, and a lot has changed in ticketing since then. Here's the updated version.

How to avoid ticket scams: 5 rules

1. Buy from the original seller

Smart concertgoers avoid unofficial resellers on secondary markets. Always try to buy from the ticket originator: the official ticketing site for the tour, the venue or the festival. If the show is sold out, the original seller's official resale or fan-to-fan exchange is the next safest option, because the tickets are verified and reissued in your name.

2. Pay with a credit card

A credit card gives you the right to dispute a fraudulent charge. Under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act, you can dispute a charge for something you didn't receive, generally in writing within 60 days of the statement that shows it. Zelle, Cash App, Venmo friends-and-family payments, wire transfers and gift cards don't come with those rights. Once the money's gone, it's usually gone.

3. Plan ahead: waitlists and ticket lotteries

The best way to avoid the resale market is to never need it. Sign up for artist presales, fan-club access, waitlists and ticket lotteries as soon as a tour is announced. Most big tours now use some form of registration before the on-sale date.

4. Know who you're buying from

If you do buy resale, know who the seller is. If you meet in person, ask to see their ID and snap a photo of it. A real seller won't mind. A scammer will disappear.

5. Accept that resale is a risk

Simply knowing that you're taking a risk on the secondary market is an important part of the buying process. Fake listings, copied barcodes and tickets sold twice are common for high-demand shows. Price the risk in before you pay, not after.

What to do if you've been scammed

1. Dispute the charge immediately if you paid by credit card. Call the number on the back of the card, then follow up in writing.
2. Report it to the platform where you found the listing, with screenshots of the listing, messages and payment.
3. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general. It takes a few minutes, and those reports feed enforcement.
4. Consider small claims court if you can identify the seller. In Georgia, magistrate court handles claims up to $15,000, and you don't need a lawyer.
5. Hire a lawyer for large amounts. In the rare case where you paid a large amount and know or can identify the seller, a lawyer can help you seek recovery through a lawsuit.

What's changed in ticketing since my Fox 5 segment

• All-in pricing is now required. Since May 12, 2025, an FTC rule requires live-event ticket sellers and resellers to show the total price, mandatory fees included, from the start. No more watching a $95 ticket turn into $140 at checkout.
• The FTC sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation over resale. In September 2025 the FTC alleged that Ticketmaster failed to enforce its own ticket limits, letting brokers and bots buy tickets in bulk for resale, including claims under the BOTS Act. Those are allegations, and the companies dispute them.
• A jury found an illegal monopoly. In April 2026, in a case brought by a coalition of states, a federal jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster illegally monopolized ticketing. The Justice Department settled its part of the case during trial, and Live Nation has said it will challenge the verdict.

For fans, the practical result so far is clearer prices. For artists, it's more attention on how tickets are priced and who keeps the money, which brings us to the side fans don't see.

Why ticketing matters for artists

Ticketing isn't just a fan problem. Pricing, fees and resale are set in the agreements an artist signs with the promoter, festival or venue, so negotiating those agreements is critical.

Artists with enough leverage can negotiate more than the guarantee:

• A share of premium and dynamic pricing. When platinum or dynamic prices climb above face value, that money doesn't automatically flow to the artist. It has to be negotiated.
• Ticketing fee rebates. Ticketing companies often share part of their fees with venues and promoters. Artists with leverage can negotiate a piece of that, and it adds up across a tour.
• A deposit that protects you. Know how much of the deposit is non-refundable if a show is canceled for reasons beyond the artist's control, like weather, venue problems or a promoter pulling out.

Planning a tour or a festival run? See music contracts, read 10 steps to making money in music, or book a consultation.

Ticket scams and touring deals: common questions

General information, not legal advice for your situation. Reading this article doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. Facts about pending cases are current as of the update date above.