Attorney General Mayes Warns Arizonans to be Vigilant Against Event Ticket Scams

PHOENIX – With big events coming to the Valley next year and tickets going on sale, including Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball and the 2026 Innings Festival, Attorney General Kris Mayes is reminding consumers to watch out for ticket scams. Scam artists may try to sell counterfeit tickets before legitimate ones are on the market. Scammers may also use fraudulent ticket websites to resell a ticket that doesn’t exist or resell original tickets that have been voided because they have already been re-sold via online ticketing re-sale websites. 

“With most tickets sold digitally these days, it’s even more important when making purchases to verify that you’re buying from an authorized vendor,” said Attorney General Mayes.

Attorney General Mayes offers the following tips to consumers looking to purchase tickets:

• Buy tickets only from trusted vendors. Purchase from the host venue whenever possible. Many official ticket sales agents now offer secondary sales options, as well.
• Double check the presale dates as posted by the artists or festival hosts.
• Be wary of purchasing tickets from someone you don’t know on Craigslist, eBay, or other similar person-to-person marketplace or auction sites.
• Do not pay for tickets with cash, wire transfer, gift cards, money transfer apps (like Venmo, Zelle, etc.), or pre-paid money transfer. Scam artists often request these payment methods because they are difficult to trace or recover, especially compared to credit cards. If the tickets turn out to be fake, it is doubtful you will get your money back.
• Use a credit card when buying tickets so you can dispute the charge if there’s an issue. You can dispute the charge if you pay by credit card and the tickets are fake. If you plan on using a mobile wallet or peer-to-peer payment service, be sure you understand the protections the service provides before making a transaction.
• Understand the “all-in” price. Sometimes, the advertised price of a ticket is much lower than the actual price because of add-on fees. When shopping for tickets, understand the total cost, including fees.
• Look for and read the refund policy carefully. Reputable sellers should have this information clearly displayed, and they should be able to answer any questions you have about your tickets.
• Check the details before buying. For events with assigned seats, make sure the ticket provides all necessary information (i.e., section, row, seat, etc.).
• Complete your transaction on the website where you initiated the purchase. Do not let a seller convince you to send a payment through a different website.
• If you’re unsure if the tickets you purchased are legitimate, visit the event space and present your ticket to “Will Call” (customer service). “Will Call” should be able to verify if your tickets are legitimate and show you how to tell if they are fake.
• Do not share photos of your tickets online. Scam artists can easily take the bar code of a ticket from an online post and use it to create fraudulent tickets, possibly leaving you out of the event because someone has already used it to enter the event.  

If you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, you can file a consumer complaint by visiting www.azag.gov/consumer. If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431.