ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

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BUFFALO -- Basketball fans in Buffalo and Syracuse are excited for the 2016 NCAA Tournament, as the University at Buffalo Bulls and the Syracuse Orange made it to the field of 68.

Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York is urging fans to buy tickets from reputable sources and avoid scammers.

“We know some die-hard fans will get the urge to travel to see their team in the tournament,” said Warren Clark, BBB president. “BBB wants everyone headed to the game to have a real ticket, and not get shut out at the gate. Remember to check the tickets over before you buy.”

BBB offers tips for determining a legitimate ticket deal from a possible scam:

• Do your research. Look up the seller or broker on bbb.org for details about the company, history of complaints and for customer reviews.
  
• Know the difference between a ticket broker and a ticket scalper. A ticket broker is a legitimate and accredited reseller while a ticket scalper is an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller.
  
• Check the ticket broker’s refund policy. Only buy from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction.
  
• Don’t give too much personal information. It’s important to never provide sensitive information such as your Social Security number or financial data. Confirm the name and address of the business before your purchase, especially if you have clicked to a ticket broker or third party website.
  
• Pay with a credit card. This way, you have some recourse if the tickets are not as promised. Do not use cash; there is little to no way of getting your money back if the tickets are fake.
  
• Verify the seats are real. Always ask for a section, row and seat number to verify the location and avoid seats that do not exist.
  
• Buy your ticket from the source. The NCAA advises fans to buy from the official website, or host schools ticket offices. The NCAA Ticket Exchange is the only 100% guaranteed, NCAA-approved secondary ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell NCAA Basketball Championship tickets with other fans. Ticket holders who are unable to attend a game or if their team gets eliminated, they have a place to safely sell tickets and buyers can be assured that the tickets are authentic and guaranteed.

Report any suspected ticket scams to local law enforcement and to BBB’s Scam Tracker so that others can be warned as well.

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