Jan 29, 2026
When the Chicago Bears advanced to the playoffs, fans scrambling for tickets to the game against the Los Angeles Rams became prime targets for a familiar threat: scammers ready to exploit their excitement.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a warning ahead of the NFC Divisional game at Soldier Field, cautioning that fraudulent activity peaks during high-demand sporting events and fans should be on high alert, CBS News reported (1).
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With tickets costing hundreds or thousands of dollars and scammers pressuring victims through fake urgency, many fans don’t discover they've been duped until they're turned away at the stadium gates — with little hope of recovering their money.
The perfect storm for fraud
Super Bowl season creates ideal conditions for ticket scams. The BBB notes counterfeit websites, fraudulent social media ads and scam emails flood the internet when demand spikes, CBS reported. They specifically warn fans to watch for sellers who appear to have many "tickets" available, as this is a major red flag (1).
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, up 25% from the previous year (2). When scammers succeed with ticket fraud, victims lose both their money and their chance to be at the big game.
Fraudsters exploit multiple vulnerabilities. Fake websites often appear first in search results, mimicking official team or venue sites. The BBB advises checking that URLs start with "https" and display a lock symbol in the address bar, and warn that scammers have gotten sophisticated at creating convincing replicas of “well-known” sites (3).
Social media platforms and peer-to-peer marketplaces like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace can present even greater risks. According to the CBS report, BBB says these platforms are "often overrun with fraudulent sellers,” selling professional-looking counterfeit tickets complete with barcodes that won't work at the gates.
One common tactic, BBB warned, is when scammers copy legitimate tickets and “sell” the same one to multiple buyers. Everyone thinks they have a valid ticket until the first person with that copied ticket has their barcode scanned in, leaving the rest stranded outside.
The screenshot scam
Here's a critical detail many fans may not know: As the NFL states on its Mobile Ticketing FAQ page, print-at-home and PDF tickets are no longer allowed. Screenshots “pose a significant security risk,” they note, and are also not allowed (4).
All NFL teams now use secure digital ticketing with rotating barcodes. Secure digital tickets have a rotating barcode that changes every 15 seconds.
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Legitimate tickets must be transferred through official team apps or Ticketmaster. The transfer creates a digital trail, invalidates the seller's copy and ensures only one valid barcode exists. So, any seller offering to send screenshots or PDFs is either uninformed or running a scam.
The payment trap
The payment method scammers demand often determines whether victims can recover their money.
The BBB strongly recommends using credit cards, which can offer dispute protections if tickets prove fraudulent (3). Debit cards, wire transfers and cash purchases are “risky” and provide no such safety net.
Peer-to-peer payment apps like Zelle, Venmo and CashApp are particularly dangerous for ticket purchases. The FTC warns that these services function like handing someone cash (5). Once you send money, it's typically gone for good. That's why these apps are designed for trusted friends and family, not strangers selling tickets online.
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Before you buy: Your safety checklist
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Buy from verified sources. Purchase directly from team box offices, official websites or approved resale platforms like Ticketmaster, StubHub or SeatGeek that offer buyer protections.
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Verify the URL. Type website addresses directly into your browser instead of clicking links. Fake sites often differ by just one or two letters.
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Check seller reviews. The BBB recommends researching any third-party seller thoroughly before purchasing (1). Their online business finder lets you check company ratings and complaint histories.
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Understand the refund policy. Only buy from resellers with clear transaction terms about what happens if tickets are fake or don't work.
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Insist on official resell app transfers. For mobile tickets, transfers must occur inside the official team or Ticketmaster app — never through text screenshots or email attachments.
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Use credit cards. Avoid debit cards, wire transfers, cash and payment apps like Zelle or Venmo when buying from anyone you don't know personally.
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Watch for urgency tactics. Scammers create artificial pressure by claiming tickets are selling fast or offering deals that expire in minutes. Slow down. Legitimate sellers don't need those tactics.
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Beware of too-good prices. Prices significantly below market value can be a major warning sign. If seats that typically cost $500 are listed for $150, question why.
If you realize you've been defrauded, act quickly. Contact your credit card company immediately to dispute the charge.
Report the scam via the BBB’s Scam Tracker and file a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Alert the venue's box office as well, as they may track fraud patterns and offer assistance.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CBS News (1); Federal Trade Commission (2), (5); Better Business Bureau (3); NFL (4)
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With a writing and editing career spanning over 15 years, Emma creates and refines content across a broad spectrum of industries, including personal finance, lifestyle, travel, health & wellness, real estate, beauty & fitness and B2B/SaaS/tech.
