BBB warns of festival scams as summer continues and Covid-19 restrictions are eased

As summer continues to heat up and Covid-19 restrictions are eased, consumers will see major concerts, festivals, and events begin to resume.

Better Business Bureau advises people to be wary when purchasing tickets for events, especially online.

Some scammers will tempt consumers into buying tickets for events, making promises of all-you-can eat experiences, live music, and more, usually through a social media link. Unfortunately, these events are usually not real, which leaves consumers who spent their money out hundreds of dollars.

A news release from the Better Business Bureau says, “BBB St. Louis issued a warning in March 2019 about Taco Booze Cruise, a festival that had been heavily marketed on social media in St. Louis and a dozen other cities. Thousands of consumers indicated on Facebook that they were interested in attending the St. Louis event, which advertised $60 early bird tickets, but BBB found that no boat or docking reservations had been made for the event at the advertised St. Louis location. After a week-long BBB investigation, the event was canceled, and organizers said online that they had issued refunds.”

The BBB recommends the public use these tips when looking for summer festival tickets: Do your research, check the vendor’s website, check the festival or vendor’s refund policies, and use caution when buying tickets sold on Craigslist and other free online listings.