Erie County Sheriff warns fans about Bills ticket scam

As the NFL season nears its end and the postseason begins and tickets become more expensive, the Sheriff's Office issued a consumer alert Wednesday warning fans of ticket fraud as the team prepares for a home game Sunday against the Miami Dolphins prepared.

A nationwide increase in ticket scams has also been reported, although the sheriff's office said it hasn't necessarily experienced the same trend, according to a spokesperson.

In the warning, Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia advised Bills fans to “exercise caution when purchasing tickets on the secondary market” as the Bills attempt to capture a fifth straight AFC East division title.

Garcia said fans who want to purchase tickets should do so through a reputable secondary market site.

“Unfortunately, as we approach the end of the regular season, scammers will attempt to take advantage of Bills fans’ excitement and anticipation for a Super Bowl run,” Garcia said. “Buyers should be vigilant and use common sense when searching for tickets. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

He recommended fans who want to purchase tickets for these games contact verified ticket partners. For the resale market, the Bills work with Ticketmaster and SeatGeek.

Garcia said this gives buyers peace of mind that their purchase is legitimate and the product is authentic.

Many of the scams happen during sales through Facebook and other social networks, especially when the transaction is with someone unknown to the buyer. Fans are also being scammed when buying tickets on fake websites.

Garcia also noted that anyone reselling tickets to games, concerts or events should only purchase tickets from a reseller who discloses the terms of the transaction. This also includes whether a refund is possible for the purchase.

Additionally, consumers should use a credit card that offers fraud protection and not cash.

Bills tickets continue to be a hot commodity as the team is 6-2 and looks to make another push for the playoffs and possibly the Super Bowl.

The cheapest ticket (as of Wednesday) for the upcoming game against the Dolphins on Stubhub is over $200 including fees and that's way up there in the upper deck. Tickets sold on the website cost up to $1,800 for club seats.

There is also high demand for the next home game against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on November 17th, as tickets are available on StubHub for no less than $375, as well as for the home game on Sunday evening against the San Francisco 49ers on December 17th. 1, with the cheapest seat at just under $250 with fees on the same website.

According to research, more than half of all football ticket scams reported in the 2023/24 season – over 50% – started on Facebook, including the Marketplace section where users list items for sale.

“We know these scams exist and want to remind people to be careful,” the sheriff’s office spokesman said.