AUSTIN, Texas — As Austin heads into a packed season of Longhorn football, Austin City Limits, Formula One and major concerts, ticket scams and misleading listings are becoming an increasingly costly problem for fans trying to get through the gate.
Jamie McClinton, a TickPick customer from Texas, said she paid $161.30 for what she believed were two tickets to a Raiders tailgate, only to learn when she arrived that the event was open to the public and did not require a ticket.
“I got Texas sideways. I was mad,” McClinton said.
McClinton said she asked a police officer where she needed to go to have her ticket scanned, “and he just laughed,” she said. “He said, there’s no … it’s open to the public. There’s no admission.”
McClinton said she showed the officer what she believed was her ticket, but he told her it was not valid. “And I said, no, I have a ticket, see right here. And he said, yeah, I’ve seen that before. It’s not a thing,” she said.
After realizing the tailgate was free, McClinton said she contacted TickPick to request a refund.
“I called Tick Pick right then and there. And I got put on hold for 24 minutes, which took time away from the tailgating time and then they hung up on me,” she said.
Receipts showed the listing, the charge and information indicating the tailgate was free. TickPick was asked what it does to ensure listings on its platform are accurate and why a free event was listed for sale, but there was no response.
The Better Business Bureau says consumers should slow down before hitting purchase.
“It’s unfortunate, but it happens more commonly than you think,” said Heather Massey of the BBB Heart of Texas.
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In Austin, University of Texas athletics leaders said they see counterfeit tickets nearly every game. Some are completely fake, they said, while others are screenshots of one real ticket sold to multiple people, meaning only one buyer can get through the scanner.
“If it’s not able to be put in your wallet, it’s not able to be tapped at the ticket scanners,” said Drew Martin, Texas Athletics deputy athletics director for external affairs.
With Longhorn games selling out, UT said many fans turn to third-party websites or people selling tickets on social media. Martin said the school regularly reminds fans that SeatGeek is the only platform where UT can guarantee assistance if a ticket turns out to be counterfeit.
“We message constantly to our ticket holders and to our public that is looking for tickets that SeatGeek is the only platform where we can guarantee that we can help you if in fact you do have a counterfeit ticket,” Martin said.
UT said if it can verify a SeatGeek ticket is counterfeit, the buyer can be refunded. The school also said that sometimes, if tickets become available, it may be able to get that fan into the game.
Martin urged buyers to verify what they are purchasing before paying.
“Make sure to validate that ticket, make the phone calls, validate that tailgate. Is it free? Is it not free? Who’s putting on the tailgate?” he said.
The BBB said Texans reported losing more than $3 million to online purchase scams in 2025, more than double the losses reported the year before. Massey said many people do not realize they have been scammed until they arrive.
“A lot of times they don’t find out until they’ve showed up at the venue,” Massey said.
Before buying, the BBB recommends starting with the event or venue’s official website. If tickets are sold out, Massey said consumers should stick with preferred sellers.
“Use those preferred sellers because they will offer generally money-back guarantees,” she said.
The BBB also recommends looking for “verified resale” tickets, checking for a lock icon on the website and reading the refund policy before paying.
McClinton said buyers should document everything and make sure they understand exactly what they are purchasing.
“It was an experience, I guess, just not one that I should have had to pay for,” she said.
Consumer advocates said the best time to check a ticket is before paying, including reviewing what the seller promises, whether a refund is offered and whether the ticket is guaranteed.
