If you’re a sports fan, it’s the best time of the year to cheer on a favorite North Carolina team in person. But because ticket sales are on the rise, it means ticket scams might be as well, reports the state’s Attorney General Josh Stein.

Here are some ways to make sure you’re buying authentic tickets that aren’t overpriced.

• Buy through reputable ticket sale sites, or better yet, buy through the athletic team or league’s site, like the NCAA. And before you buy, do a quick search to make sure that the ticket prices are comparable to prices from other sites.
• Look for and read the refund policy carefully. Reputable sellers should have this information clearly displayed, and they should be able to answer any questions you have about your tickets.
• Use a credit card when you’re buying the tickets so you can dispute the charge if there’s an issue.
• If tickets are being resold in person, remember that state law prohibits charging anything more than $3 over the face value of the ticket.
• Be suspicious of any emails that claim you’ve won tickets or are eligible to purchase them for super-low prices. These are often phishing scams to get your personal or financial information.

If you have concerns about your ticket purchase or the seller, file a complaint with the state attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or ncdoj.gov/complaint.

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