Avoiding scams: Why purchasing from secondary markets can cost you

Thinking about Facebook Marketplace, Viagogo, or Gumtree for that sold-out concert ticket? You may be putting yourself at risk and becoming a victim of fraud.

When events sell out, many fans turn to secondary‐ticket platforms (resale sites) to buy tickets. While these sites may seem like the only way to attend high-demand shows, they do carry significant risks.

Platforms like Viagogo act as marketplaces between sellers and buyers, meaning the seller is not affiliated in any way with the organiser or official ticket platform. There is no guarantee that the tickets you are looking at are, in fact, legitimate.

Reports from around the world show that buyers on such sites may end up paying hugely inflated prices, receive fake, invalid, or non-transferable tickets, with little to no customer support or recourse for refunds.

There are serious risks on the secondary market, and here is the guide from Webtickets, a trusted online ticket sales brand, to help keep you safe when purchasing tickets online.

Do’s:

Number 1 rule is that you must make sure that you are purchasing directly with the event or concert’s official ticket platform.

Check the concert’s or organiser’s website or social media to find the official tickets partner platform, and only purchase from there.

Set reminders, and plan ahead, and act fast when tickets go on sale.

Do educate your friends. Every time someone buys from a scalper, they feed the beast. Stop the cycle.

Don’ts:

Don’t click paid ads at the top of Google. Scammers pay to appear above legitimate sellers. Always scroll down to find the official event link.

Don’t trust a “100% guarantee.” A refund months later does not help when you are outside the gate, hearing the crowd cheer without you. 

Don’t pay exorbitantly above face value without acknowledging the risk, inflated prices often correlate with speculative or invalid listings.

Don’t allow yourself to feel pressured. These websites often use flashing messages like ‘Fewer than 7 tickets available”, as a tactic to create a sense of urgency.

Don’t take chances because you’re desperate. Missing one gig hurts less than being scammed, or funding a black-market system that exploits real fans.