provides federal fraud protections and a formal process for disputing fraudulent charges. For purchases from independent sellers, consumers should insist on legitimate escrow protections and walk away if the seller asks them to bypass security measures.

The agency advises against using payment methods that offer little recourse, including:

Cash or debit cards

Wire transfers

Prepaid, store or gift cards

Cryptocurrency

Peer-to-peer payment apps such as Cash App or Venmo

 If you pay by credit card, you have built-in federal protection,  Reinen said.  Should you find out that this is a scammer, or there is anything to dispute, you have 60 days from the time that it appears on your credit card statement to dispute that transaction. 

A screenshot is not the same as a secure ticket transfer

If a seller is offering a screenshot, photocopy, printed barcode or static PDF instead of transferring the ticket through an official app, DATCP said don't accept it.

A barcode image can be copied and sent to multiple buyers. Even if the ticket looks authentic, only the first person to use a valid barcode may get through the gate.

DATCP recommends insisting on an in-app transfer through an official platform such as the MLB Ballpark app. Buyers should also inspect website addresses for misspellings and lookalike domains, confirm the site uses  https://  and enable multifactor authentication on ticketing and email accounts.

Be extremely cautious when buying through social media

Ticket offers on Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, X, Craigslist and other online platforms deserve extra scrutiny. Scammers may create fake profiles, impersonate people buyers know or take over legitimate accounts.

If a friend appears to be selling tickets online, DATCP recommends calling or texting that person directly using contact information already on hand - not information included in the ticket post.

Fans should also watch for sellers who create artificial urgency with claims such as  pay right now  or  only two left. 

Deeply discounted tickets to sold-out games or premium seats are another major warning sign.

If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is, according to Reinen.

 You absolutely have to give yourself pause to just think through what's before you and just count to nine,  Reinen said.  Three seconds is too short. Count to nine and allow yourself just some breathing space to really analyze if this is the decision that you want to make and the right choice for you. 

What to do if you are scammed

Anyone who believes they purchased fraudulent tickets should act quickly:

Contact the ticket platform or marketplace. Notify the credit card company or financial institution and dispute the transaction immediately. Report the incident to local police. File a consumer complaint with DATCP.

Consumers can reach the DATCP Bureau of Consumer Protection through ConsumerProtection.wi.gov or datcp.wi.gov, by emailing datcphotline@wi.gov, or by calling 800-422-7128.

The bottom line for fans: Slow down, verify the seller and use protected payment methods. A few extra checks before buying could mean the difference between watching postseason baseball from the stands and being turned away at the gate.