How Chiefs fans can avoid Super Bowl LVIII scams in Las Vegas
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Attorney General has a warning for Kansas City Chiefs fans who are planning to head to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey said there are simple steps fans can take to protect themselves from tickets scams and other suspicious incidents.
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“With the Chiefs heading to the Super Bowl next weekend, I want to ensure that Missourians know to stay vigilant while buying their game day tickets,” Bailey said in a release.
“And if the worst were to happen, I want football fans to know the Attorney General’s Office is a resource for them. We will pursue anyone who attempts to rip off Missourians over Super Bowl weekend.”
Buying tickets
Bailey’s office shared the following tips when buying Super Bowl tickets:
Know your vendor: Make sure to buy tickets from a trustworthy website, especially before providing financial information.
Do your research: If you’re unfamiliar with a ticket seller, research them on the Missouri Attorney General’s website or the Better Business Bureau’s website for complaints.
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Shop on secure sites: Double check the URL. If the URL begins with “https,” the “s” will not appear until you visit the order page. Secure websites should also have a closed lock graphic in the browser, usually to the left of the URL.
Use a credit card: If you purchase tickets online, experts stress you should use a credit card if possible. Credit cards offer protections that you don’t have if you use cash, check, debit cards, CashApp or Venmo.
Inspect your tickets: Physically inspect your tickets to reduce the chances of being turned away at the stadium. Check the date, time and location.
But in the end, Bailey stressed if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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Any Missourians who experience a potential ticket scam can report it to the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Complaint Hotline at 800-392-8222 or ago.mo.gov.
Airbnb, short-term rentals
But it’s not just ticket scams that Chiefs fans will have to watch out for. If you’re headed to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII, you’ll also need a place to stay.
Las Vegas hotel rates have skyrocketed. Hotels.com says rates for the two days before the game are over $500 per night.
So if you’re looking to save, you might think of staying at a short-term rental like Airbnb or Vrbo. A representative for Airbnb said they expect a significant spike in bookings in the Las Vegas area.
But with all that last-minute planning and booking, Airbnb is warning guests to look out for scammers, people trying to convince travelers to book on third-party sites that aren’t safe.
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“They may claim that the accommodation is managed by Airbnb, and mock up what appears to be an Airbnb webpage or send a fake Airbnb receipt in order to legitimize their scam,” Airbnb said in a release.
These scammers could ask travelers to book quickly and send money directly, like through a wire transfer. But in reality, the rental doesn’t exist and the money is gone.
Like the attorney general, Airbnb urges consumers to use trusted websites at all times — from communication to booking to payment.
The platform also encourages users to read ratings and reviews, ask potential hosts questions before booking and do a safety check after arriving.
Anyone who suspects a listing could be fake, or is worried a host is trying to scam them, can report it to Airbnb here.
Super Bowl merch
Even if you’re not traveling to Las Vegas, there are plenty of people trying to sell counterfeit fan gear.
It’s become such a problem that Homeland Security has gotten involved in past years, seizing as much as 3,500 pounds of counterfeit Chiefs merchandise from overseas in a past operation.
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So how can you avoid the rip-offs?
One giveaway is the price. When you’re looking at $250 jerseys online and you spot one on a weird website for $30, don’t forget: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
All officially licensed NFL products will have the league’s shield on the tag.
If the tag is absent on the merchandise, it could be counterfeit. Check to see where the product was manufactured and examine the quality of the logo on the item.
Experts said there will often also be misspellings, loose stitching, bubbling numbers, even Nike logos facing backward.
Homeland Security Investigations will actually shut down websites selling fake merchandise. If you would like to make a report, call 866-347-2423 or visit this site.
