Pocono News Section

World Series Ticket Scam Warning

World Series Ticket Scam Warning - Friday, October 23, 2009 at 05:03AM EST

Reported by: Eyewitness News
Friday, Oct 23, 2009 @ 05:03am EDT
HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY - The demand for World Series tickets to Philadelphia Phillies home games has the State Attorney General warning fans to be on the lookout for potential scams.
Any tickets not taken by Phillies season-ticket holders were offered to fans in a lottery that closed a couple of weeks ago.
Attorney General Tom Corbett says this is just the scenario that con artists could prey upon.
Here's what the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection recommends to avoid being scammed.
1) Purchase tickets from a reputable seller, preferably one authorized by major league baseball.
2) Never wire-transfer money to individuals you do not know.
3) Make sure the location of your seats corresponds with actual seat numbers, rows and sections in the ballpark.
4) Understand the terms and conditions of the sale when purchasing tickets online or from ticket brokers.
5) Consider using a credit card to pay for tickets. You can dispute charges on a credit card if the tickets are not delivered or turn out to be counterfeit.

The following information comes from the State Attorney General's website.
Tickets for Philadelphia home games cannot be sold for more than 25 percent or $5 above the face value, whichever is greater, unless:
-- The tickets are sold by a Philadelphia-licensed ticker broker, or
-- They are offered by an Internet reseller that has a Pennsylvania address and offers a money-back guarantee if the tickets are not honored or do not match their advertised description.

Corbett said that Phillies fans considering travel to away games should consider the following tips if they are purchasing a travel package:

- Pay particular attention to what the travel package does and does not offer (Do not assume that every package includes airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to get into the game).

- Get all the offers, terms and conditions of your package in writing, including the cancellation policy in the event that you are unable to make the trip.

- If the package includes airfare and a ticket to the game, federal rules apply. The travel agent must either have the game tickets in hand, or have a written contract to obtain the tickets before the agent can make the offer. If a ticket is offered, but never provided, you may be entitled to a full refund of the entire package price.

- Research the hotel and its location. In some instances, consumers have been told that their hotel is within walking distance to the venue, when in reality it was too far to walk and required additional expenses to either rent a car or pay for other ground transportation.

- Do not use cash or wire-transfer money.

- Be wary of unknown and private sellers who refuse to provide you with verifiable contact information.

- Be cautious of travel packages that appear to be extremely cheap or extremely expensive.

Consumers who wish to file a complaint or report illegal activity associated with World Series ticket sales or other consumer-related issues should call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555, or file an online consumer complaint at www. attorneygeneral. gov

The Phillies will host games 3 and 4 on October 31st and November 1st, and a game 5 on November 2nd if necessary.
As for the cost of a World Series ticket to Citizens Bank Park, the website StubHub lists an average price of $838.
That's $65 less from last year's series.