How to know your concert tickets are legitimate

Justin Bieber's "Believe" tour will include 45 shows starting in Arizona and ending in Florida. Alabama is of course part of that tour and Bieber fever takes over Birmingham Jan. 16, 2013.

A FOX6 viewer named Kathy told reporter Ronda Robinson she is worried that her 13-year-old daughter will not get a chance to see the concert.

"I clicked on BJCC tickets and saw a long list of tickets for sale. I assumed they were from early fan club sales or corporate brokers. How do I find out? I can't imagine telling my husband I've tossed away over $400!" she said.

Ronda contacted the BJCC on Kathy's behalf. Executive Director Tad Snider suggested that she "explain what has happened at our ticket office and we can verify whether it is a legitimate ticket."

To verify BJCC tickets contact the box office at 205-458-8400. Kathy thinks she bought the tickets from an online broker group. Ronda has been in touch with the group on her behalf and we are awaiting a response.

In the meantime, the BJCC has offered to help Kathy figure all of this out.

The Better Business Bureau also offers these suggestions to help prevent consumers from getting ripped off when buying concert tickets:

• Believing you're that lucky – The reason tickets are expensive is because they're hard to get and the chances of you getting lucky and finding a deal are slim. If a situation sounds too good to be true, such as someone selling tickets to a popular event for much less than offered elsewhere, it's probably not on the level.

• Wiring money to someone you don't know – Say for some reason you do believe that a seller you found online who lives in another country really has tickets to an event in the US. The fact that the seller then asks you to wire money to pay for the tickets should be the final red flag that makes you walk away. When buying tickets online, ideally pay with a credit card or through Paypal because of the consumer protections provided.

• Not doing your research – If buying online, ask to see a picture of the tickets so you can confirm the seats match up with the venue. If your friends already have tickets, you can also make sure they look the same as the ones you want to buy. Search for guidance online about how the tickets should look. For example, the NFL has offered advice on how to tell if Super Bowl tickets are legit here. - http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/09000d5d81d40d6a/article/how-to-tell-if-your-super-bowl-ticket-is-legit

• Buying from scalpers at the event - Buying tickets outside the venue can be a game of roulette. You might get taken to the cleaners or the seats may be just as advertised. Keep in mind that, in some states, it's illegal to charge more than the face value for tickets.

• Choosing a disreputable online ticket broker – When purchasing tickets through an online broker, look for the BBB seal on their website and check them out online at www.bbb.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews. Review the company's policy for customer satisfaction and what happens if tickets purchased through their site are fake or not as advertised.

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