Be careful purchasing summer concert tickets

Enjoying your favorite band outdoors is one of the best ways to celebrate summer, and music festivals are scheduled around the state almost every weekend.

Finding tickets to popular concerts can be a challenge. Some sell out right away, forcing would-be concert-goers to look for tickets on the secondary market. That means consumers need to be extra careful, Better Business Bureau advises.

Scammers often advertise sought-after tickets through social media or on classified sites such as Craigslist. But buying through an unofficial site can be dicey. Unlike established venues and authorized resellers, these sellers may not offer a guarantee that the tickets are genuine and that your sensitive information is safe.

Be wary if there are inducements beyond the ticket itself, such as all-you-can-eat refreshments, hotel rooms or privileged parking. In some cases, the event may not even exist: it's been fabricated to induce people to buy worthless passes.

BBB advises anyone looking for festival tickets to follow these tips:

Do your research. Search online for the name of the festival. Make sure the name on a ticket offer matches the name advertised on the festival's official website. Go to midmobbb.org and look up the festival organizer to see whether there are complaints or a BBB rating from A+ to F.

Look for festival contact information, including an email address and phone number. Is there a refund or cancellation policy, and does the website have a privacy policy?

Keep any receipts, and use a credit card in case you need to challenge the charge. On the payment page, make sure the address begins with https:// or that the page displays a closed lock, indicating that the site is secure.

Avoid buying tickets at free classified websites or from people on the street outside the festival.

Resist pressure to buy on the spot, especially if the deal seems too good to be true. That's often the sign of a scam.

Remember, you can always contact BBB at midmobbb.org or by calling 573-886-8965 for BBB Business Reviews, consumer tips or to file a complaint.

Sean Spence is the Mid-Missouri regional director for Better Business Bureau.