BBB: Beware Of Super Bowl Scams

With the Super Bowl coming up, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on the alert for knock-off team jerseys, counterfeit memorabilia and phony game tickets.

According to the BBB, there is a risk that the memorabilia you buy online will be counterfeit. Several BBBs around the country have reported websites that don’t even have any actual merchandise to sell you. These sites are trying to get your credit card number and personal information to steal your identity or drain your bank account. The BBB says the best way to ensure you are getting official sports gear is to buy directly from the team or league websites, or from official vendors at the stadium.

The BBB also warns consumers of rip-off game tickets. There are thousands of Super Bowl tickets currently listed on Craig’s List, but the site offers no guarantees and does not require identification from people who list goods and services. The company warns that buying in person isn’t always safe either since scammers are easily able to make fake tickets look real.

Sites such as Stub Hub guarantee your tickets’ authenticity. There were 2,800 tickets available as of January 23rd starting at $2,450 a piece. Ticketmaster handles ticket exchanges for the NFL, and had more than 800 tickets available as of January 23rd, starting at $2,864.

The BBB says that, in general, avoid scams by being skeptical of:

~Offers that sound “too good to be true” ~Pushy sales tactics ~Poor quality of merchandise ~Offers that require money order/wire transfer of funds