Illegal ticketing websites

Summary

You can find out if a ticketing website is genuine by: * looking at the type of tickets sold – be suspicious if they are for events that have sold out or haven’t officially gone on sale. You can often find out when tickets go on sale from press, radio or TV promotions * looking at feedback about the website or company - enter its name into a search engine to see if there are comments from buyers about whether they have received tickets * checking contact details for the website - there should be a landline phone number and a full postal address. Avoid using the site if there is only a PO box address and mobile phone number, as it could be difficult to get in touch after you buy tickets. These addresses and phone numbers are easy to change and difficult to trace * use a site that has a red, black and white kitemark provided by the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), the self-regulatory body for the entertainment ticket industry. You can find a full list of STAR'S members on their website. * using football club official websites to buy football tickets. Contact the football club to get the official website address if you’re unsure. If you think you’ve bought a ticket from.

Key information

• •looking at the type of tickets sold – be suspicious if they are for events that have sold out or haven’t officially gone on sale. You can often find out when tickets go on sale from press, radio or TV promotions
• •looking at feedback about the website or company - enter its name into a search engine to see if there are comments from buyers about whether they have received tickets
• •use a site that has a red, black and white kitemark provided by the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), the self-regulatory body for the entertainment ticket industry. You can find a full list of STAR'S members on their website.
• •using football club official websites to buy football tickets. Contact the football club to get the official website address if you’re unsure.
• •* looking at the type of tickets sold – be suspicious if they are for events that have sold out or haven’t officially gone on sale. You can often find out when tickets go on sale from press, radio or TV promotions
• •* looking at feedback about the website or company - enter its name into a search engine to see if there are comments from buyers about whether they have received tickets
• •* use a site that has a red, black and white kitemark provided by the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), the self-regulatory body for the entertainment ticket industry. You can find a full list of STAR'S members on their website.
• •* using football club official websites to buy football tickets. Contact the football club to get the official website address if you’re unsure.
• •If you think you’ve bought a ticket from a scam website, you should report it to the police. Check how to report a crime on GOV.UK.
• •You might not get your money back, but you can help stop other people using the site.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Illegal ticketing websites](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/event-tickets/illegal-ticketing-websites/)

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