BBB Warns Spectators of Scammers During the 2016 NCAA Tournament

Better Business Bureau Northwest wants to serve an alley-oop to spectators attending the 2016 NCAA Tournament. This year the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team are the No. 1 seed, Oregon State Beavers are No. 7 and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are the No. 11 seed. These teams will battle it out to make it to the Final Four.

As sports-lovers begin to make arrangements to attend tournaments across the country, scammers will likely be making their own plans.

BBB Northwest has the following tips to ensure you have a safe March Madness experience:

Get in the game. A safe way to purchase tickets is by going through the official NCAA website. The NCAA also hosts a ticket exchange for buyers who are unable to attend the games.

Pass the ball. When buying tickets elsewhere be sure to research the seller. It’s almost impossible to differentiate between an authentic and a fake ticket. Ask about money-back guarantees, in case the tickets turn out be counterfeit.

Team spirit. When buying merchandise try buying directly from the team. Shop online or in person at the stadium from pre-approved vendors. While it might be tempting to buy cheap counterfeit merchandise, remember that doing so diverts funds away from the school and helps fund criminal activity.

Stay on the defense. As usual if a deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is. Scam victims are encouraged to report it to the BBB Scam Tracker.