BBB: How to avoid NCAA Tournament UK ticket scams

Fans hoping to follow the University of Kentucky basketball team on the road in the NCAA men’s tournament should be careful to avoid being scammed.

The Better Business Bureau recommends good judgment when buying secondhand tickets.

“Various websites already show a lot of tickets on the secondary market for sale to the games in Des Moines and Philadelphia,” BBB director of communications Heather Clary said in a news release. “BBB reminds fans to not let their excitement about the tournament cloud their judgment when it comes to buying those tickets.”

Here are tips to identify a legitimate ticket from a possible scam ticket:

▪  Check refund or money-back guarantee policies for tickets when buying them outside the event’s website. Fans may check the site through the BBB at BBB.org or at 1-800-866-6668.

▪  Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. Buy at your own risk when using sites such as Craigslist and try to meet in person if possible. Always use a credit card when possible, and never wire funds to strangers to pay for tickets.

▪  The NCAA Ticket Exchange is the only NCAA-approved secondary ticket marketplace for fans to buy and sell tickets safely. Find it at Ncaa.com/exchange.

▪  Report any suspected ticket scams to local law enforcement and the BBB so others may be warned.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 10:28 AM with the headline "BBB: How to avoid NCAA Tournament UK ticket scams."