Concerts and music festivals are back, and people are more excited than ever to step out and let their hair down. But with this increased popularity, ticket sales have been soaring too, barely allowing people time to buy their passes before they are sold out. Many people have been taking undue advantage of this fact and selling counterfeit tickets to concerts and other events. Here are seven ways to avoid scammers and save your money:

Purchase directly from the venue
When heading out to a concert, try to purchase your tickets directly from the venue or the organizer. This is the safest way to ensure you are not scammed out of your money.

Buying from sketchy websites
When purchasing online, look for the ‘lock’ symbol next to the website address. This is one way of ensuring that you make your online purchase via a secure connection and that your bank details aren’t being leaked or made accessible to unethical hackers.

Not using your credit card
Use payment methods that offer protection, such as your credit cards. In case of fraud, it is easier to report a fraudulent transaction and get your money back. Other payment methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cash apps may not offer the same security to your transaction.

Look for reviews
When buying your tickets online, look for reviews. Avoid purchasing from new sellers or those who don’t have any other sale offerings, as they may be trying to scam you. Checking reviews can help understand whether or not an internet seller is genuine.

For fast-selling venues or artists, buying straight from the source may not always be possible. If you must buy your tickets from a reseller, avoid the following:

Tickets are cheaper than retail
It is likely a scam if you find someone trying to sell tickets to a sold-out concert at a cost lower than the retail price. While there may be some genuine emergencies where a seller may need to give their ticket away for certain reasons, these are far and few in between.

Receiving digital copies
If you are buying from an online seller, ensure you receive physical tickets and not PDFs or online copies of your tickets. This is because, it may be possible that the seller has sold the same tickets to multiple buyers, meaning that you may not be able to scan and use them when you reach the venue.

The seller refuses to meet
Insist on a face-to-face meeting with the reseller to ensure their authenticity. A reseller who wants to make a quick sale online may be duping you. Once you transfer the funds to their cash app accounts, you may never receive your tickets or hear from them again.

Practicing caution with resellers, especially on social media, can help keep you away from scams. Vet the source of your tickets, and ensure you only buy from trusted vendors. Be vigilant when buying tickets because even a slight typo could indicate a scam. Additionally, check the concert website for their phone number and address to verify the seller’s contact information. Being aware of these little details when buying tickets can help you save big bucks.