With the Milwaukee Brewers heading to the World Series, excitement is building across Wisconsin! Unfortunately, big sporting events also attract scammers looking to take advantage of excited fans.

The Platteville Police Department reminds everyone to use caution when purchasing tickets online. Before sending money, keep these tips in mind:

Watch out for these common scams:

🔹 Fake tickets for sale: Scammers may advertise tickets on Facebook Marketplace, buy-and-sell groups, or other social media pages without actually having tickets.

🔹 Prices that seem too good to be true: If someone is offering tickets well below market value, be suspicious.

🔹 Requests for payment through Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, gift cards, or cryptocurrency: These payment methods can make it difficult to recover your money if you are scammed. A payment app alone does not guarantee protection.

🔹 Pressure to act quickly: Scammers may claim other buyers are waiting or insist you send money immediately before you have time to verify the tickets.

🔹 Fake screenshots and profiles: Screenshots of tickets, purchase confirmations, and social media profiles can be faked or stolen. Don’t rely on them as proof that tickets are legitimate.

How to protect yourself:

✔️ Purchase tickets through the official MLB website or a reputable, authorized ticket marketplace.

✔️ Avoid buying tickets from strangers through private messages or unverified social media posts.

✔️ Never click suspicious links or provide your account passwords, verification codes, or financial information.

✔️ Be cautious of anyone who refuses to use a trusted ticket marketplace with buyer protections.

✔️ If you have doubts, walk away. Missing out on a ticket is better than losing your money to a scammer!

Already been scammed? Contact your financial institution or payment provider immediately. Report suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report the incident to local law enforcement. Please understand that ticket scam cases are very difficult to prove and have little chance of recovering the money lost.

Let’s enjoy this exciting time for Wisconsin baseball while looking out for one another!

GO BREWERS