PERSPECTIVES FROM THE CAMPUS

One of the strengths of Indiana is that we bring together a variety of perspectives from the plethora of areas that touch the field of cyber, especially through the colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education throughout our state. Hence the name, “Perspectives from the Campus”, we invite experts – immersed in the pursuit of educating their students – to offer their knowledge for finding solutions in cybersecurity that benefit all Hoosiers.

In the latest installment of this series, David Dungan, who serves as the executive director at the Center for Security Services and Cyber Defense at Anderson University, discusses the types of scams that cybercriminals will try and use when it comes to all of us buying tickets to some of the world’s biggest sporting events including the NCAA’s “March Madness” and the Indianapolis 500 and the steps we can take to make sure that we’re in the right seat for all the action!

By David Dungan

Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a fan of college basketball or a racing enthusiast, there’s no doubt about the fact that “March Madness” and the Indianapolis 500 are two of the most exciting sporting events in the world, creating every year, it seems, the kind of excitement that can make for long-lasting memories.

And whether you’ve been going to these games – or the race – for years, or maybe you decide this is the year you’re going to check out some of the action on the hardwood, or experience for yourself “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, you’ll want to be mindful of some of the online scams that are out there when it comes to buying a ticket.

According to a report that aired on “CBS Mornings”, Americans lost more than $2.3 million to online ticket scams in 2024, according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

With “Selection Sunday” coming up this weekend and the “500” just a few weeks away, we’ve got some tips to help ensure that the tickets you are looking to purchase are legitimate and will get you through the gate.

Among the scams that are out there include:

• Fake Social Media Listings - Scammers will often post fake tickets on social media platforms, such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. They pose as having digital tickets but after you pay, the posting disappears (along with your money).
• Fake Websites - Scammers will often create a fake website in order to mimic the legitimate website of a ticket vendor. At first glance, some of these sites might  appear to be similar, but there are two key things to look for in a secure website, beginning with the fact that a secure website will begin with “https” and it will also include the “Lock” icon that will appear in the window of your web browser.
• Counterfeit Tickets - Counterfeit tickets involve using a realistic PDF or AI-generated ticket that appears legitimate at first, but once the ticket is scanned at the venue, it is flagged as being fake or the barcode indicates that it’s already been used.
• “Too good to be true” prices - The average price of a March Madness first round ticket is around $100, according to Ticketmaster, with prices rising the further the tournament goes or depending on who’s playing. It’s a good idea to check multiple vendors to see if you are getting a good deal or if the price, as advertised, is simply too good to be true or appears to be deeply discounted.

The best way to avoid scams is to buy from the original source. The NCAA will sell tickets to every tournament game on their official website. The same goes for the Indianapolis 500, as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will sell tickets to every event that is taking place at the Brickyard. In fact, if you're buying a physical ticket for the 500, it will (always) feature an image of last year's winner (Josef Newgarden) and the size of the ticket is almost the size of two table coasters, and it's printed on a thick ticket stock. If it's a digital ticket, it'll have a moveable graphic (with some motion to it). There are no "print-at-home" tickets, and a screenshot cannot be texted to you. Following safeguards, such as these, will help you avoid worrying about your tickets being invalid.

Another way is to use reputable platforms, such as StubHub, SeatGeek, or VividSeats. Using sites such as these will offer purchase protection, so you are guaranteed money back if there are any issues with your tickets.

If you want to learn more about some of the pitfalls that can come with buying tickets, as well as a few solutions designed to help you, be sure to check out an informative video produced by a threat intelligence firm, whose focus is on helping to prevent cybercrimes.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita also routinely recommends that Hoosiers pay with a credit card in order to maximize their purchase protection. Additionally, you’ll want to fully understand what a ticket vendor’s policy is, with regard to a refund, exchange, or any kind of return before purchasing any tickets.

Without a doubt, thanks to all of the advances we’ve made in technology, it’s easier than ever to make an online purchase. The difference is, when it comes to having a seamless customer service experience, the reason for us to feel good about spending our money comes from the fact that the technology enables us to make a purchase that is safe and secure, from a reputable business, and that the website is legitimate; a satisfaction that provides us with some “piece of mind” that our personal and financial information isn’t going to be compromised.

And that’s just what we need (and should expect) as we get ready to cheer on our team as they take the court, or to be there in our seat at the race when it’s time to celebrate being “Back Home Again in Indiana”!