Super Bowl Ticket Scams: How to Avoid Fake Tickets

Super Bowl ticket scams cost fans millions of dollars every year. The combination of high ticket demand, significant secondary market prices, and the emotional desire to attend has created a fertile environment for scammers. Here is a complete guide to avoiding Super Bowl ticket fraud.

Common Scam Types

The most common Super Bowl ticket scams include: counterfeit physical tickets (scanned at entry and found invalid), digital tickets sold to multiple buyers simultaneously, "wire and disappear" transactions where the seller takes payment and provides nothing, and fake escrow services that claim to hold payment until delivery but are actually just stealing money.

Social Media Scams

Social media — particularly Facebook Marketplace, Twitter/X, and Instagram — is the primary hunting ground for Super Bowl ticket scammers. Sellers on these platforms offer no buyer protection, and payment methods like Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, and wire transfer provide no recourse if you are scammed. Never buy Super Bowl tickets from individuals on social media platforms.

Safe Purchasing Platforms

StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats are the safest secondary market platforms for Super Bowl tickets. All three are established companies with buyer guarantee programs — if your tickets are invalid or not delivered, you receive a replacement or full refund. Use these platforms exclusively for Super Bowl ticket purchases. The NFL's official resale partner also offers guaranteed tickets.

Red Flags to Watch For

Warning signs of a Super Bowl ticket scam include: prices significantly below market rate (if it seems too good to be true, it is), sellers who request payment via wire transfer or cryptocurrency, sellers who cannot provide digital transfer of tickets through the team's or NFL's official app, and sellers who are unresponsive or unable to answer basic questions about the tickets.

Verification Tips

Always request that sellers transfer tickets through the NFL's Ticketmaster system or the team's official ticketing app before completing payment. Digital tickets with verified transfer records are the safest option. For the complete guide to buying Super Bowl tickets safely and at the best price, see our Super Bowl tickets guide.