While technology contributes to great inventions, growth, and development, it might also increase crime rates. For instance, online ticket fraud has become rampant in recent days leading to fake sales of tickets. A significant number of football fans are locked out of the stadium out-of-pocket and disappointed after their tickets are declared fake. For this reason, it is best to take precautions when buying football tickets online. Most scammers utilize the same technology that authentic football ticket companies use, making it quite challenging to differentiate a fake ticket from a real one. Remember that football is the most popular game; hence, everyone will rush to grab a ticket before they are over. Therefore, you might also lack enough time to check the website’s authentication. However, you can always check the P1 Travel website for Manchester United tickets. Nevertheless, below are some essential tricks to help you spot a fake football ticket.
Check the Type of Paper Used
Are you a genuine football fan? If you are, you will likely support a specific football club such as Manchester United. Consequently, if you have been a football fan attending live matches for an extended period, you probably have mastered how the ticket’s paper feels. Usually, the ticket is printed on stiff paper and includes a slight sheen. Look out for tickets printed on flimsy printer paper, as they are not genuine. Also, do not accept an e-ticket as it can be printed at home.
Additionally, legit tickets are printed on paper with a perforated edge. Again, check online or with your friends to ensure the tickets look alike.
Check for Serial Numbers
To start off, each ticket should have a unique serial number. Also, serial numbers are an essential part of the ticket; thus, each ticket should have one. Before purchasing a ticket, you should check its barcode. Research how many tickets should be visible on the ticket and ensure the number matches.
Holograms
Following the increased ticket-touting cases, most football clubs opt for tickets that encompass hologram images. Hologram images include one of the most challenging things to replicate on a ticket. Thus, scammers are not able to fake them.
To determine a fake ticket from a genuine one, you can hold them next to each other and observe the flaws instantly.
Grammatical Errors or Typos
Grammatical errors and typos are among the most obvious red flag signs that will tell something are not legitimate or professional. Look for subtle indicators like random capital letters, punctuation errors, and incorrect language. Also, check out for fine print errors such as “no refund” rather than “no refunds.”
Printing
While many scammers have adopted the same printing technology as actual ticket companies, there will always be a significant difference in the printing quality achieved. Usually, ticket touts are always in a hurry and will produce hundreds of tickets at a particular time. Therefore, this rush will likely lead to off-center or blurry printing. This is a real warning sign, as no authentic company can allow such tickets to be sold out to clients.
In conclusion, you should have seen an actual ticket before making your purchase to tell whether a ticket is fake or real. Also, always ensure you remain updated on sports matters to avoid falling into the scammer’s traps.
