Fans turning to social media for World Cup ticket deals should be on alert for scams, says BBB

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The first Bay Area World Cup match, Qatar versus Switzerland, is this weekend, Saturday, June 13!

Tickets are still available on major retail sites. But some soccer fans are turning to third-party sellers in the hopes of scoring a great deal.

One place in particular is Facebook Marketplace. Facebook Marketplace is a popular platform for selling just about anything. According to Capital One, around 20% of global consumers have bought something via Marketplace.

But is it safe?

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The Better Business Bureau has issued a scam alert for football fans to be on the lookout for fake World Cup tickets being sold through social media, online marketplaces and messaging apps.

If you're thinking of buying World Cup tickets secondhand on Facebook, it's important to note that buyer protections on Facebook Marketplace are limited. According to Facebook, many purchases made using the platform's built-in checkout are covered by their purchase protection policies. But purchases via local pickup, Messenger or those that move onto a third-party site are not covered.

AARP suggests that Facebook Marketplace buyers also dig into a seller's profile, so always check if it's legit. If it was made only a short time ago, or doesn't have much on there, it could be a fake profile.

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And if you need a public spot to safely pick up, many police stations even have a designated area at their station for buyers and sellers to meet.

And, as always, purchasing event tickets through their official ticketing site is always the safest way to go.

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