How to spot a fake ticket site in 2 minutes

Why scams cluster around the big games

Derbies, finals and sold-out concerts are the perfect setup for fraud: huge demand, little supply and a deadline. Fake pages appear days before the event, buy ads with the game's name and disappear the moment it is over. The loss ranges from one ticket to an entire trip, because fans travelling from abroad only find out at the stadium gate.

None of the checks below needs technical knowledge. Together they take two minutes and rule out most fraudulent pages.

1. The domain has a history

Copy the site's address and look up its registration date in a WHOIS service (several are free). A domain created a few weeks ago, selling tickets for an event that happens in days, is the strongest signal there is. Legitimate resale sellers have operated for years and show up in old searches.

2. There is a company behind it

Look for the legal name, a physical address and a registration number in the footer or the terms. Fake sites usually have only a contact form and a generic email. When you find a company name, search for it outside the site: independent review platforms, complaints, news.

3. The payment leaves a trail

Credit card payments can be disputed; bank transfers, instant payments to individuals and crypto cannot. A seller that only accepts irreversible methods is choosing that on purpose. Be suspicious of discounts for paying off-platform, through WhatsApp or a link sent by message.

4. The price makes sense

A ticket for El Clásico or the Champions League final below face value, days before the game, does not exist. In resale the price rises with demand; that is how serious partners work and how the whole market works. A very low price is bait.

5. Delivery is explained before you pay

Ask how and when the ticket arrives: transfer in the club's app, PDF e-ticket, collection point. Real sellers state the timeline (many clubs release mobile tickets only 24 to 72 hours before) and what happens if something fails. A vague answer, or a promise to send immediately a ticket the club has not issued yet, is a contradiction.

6. Reviews have names, dates and detail

Testimonials with only a first name, all five stars and no date are worth nothing. Look the company up on independent review sites and read the one- and two-star reviews: that is where you see how it treats people with a problem.

7. The page manufactures urgency

Countdown timers, 'last 2 tickets' that never change, pop-ups saying other people are buying right now. These exist to stop you doing exactly the checks above. Close the page, breathe and come back later: if the site is real, the ticket will still be there, perhaps pricier, but real.

If you already paid

Dispute the charge with your card issuer immediately and keep screenshots of the ad, the page, the conversation and the receipt. File a police report, even remotely. Report the page in the form below: every verified report becomes a warning for the next fan.