Scam tips from the BBB:

Milwaukee, Wis. – If you’re looking to buy hard-to-find Brewers’ post season tickets, you’re not alone. The online market, including ebay and Craig’s List, already offers numerous Brewers ticket auctions. Before you buy, check out these BBB tips in order to save yourself from getting scammed.

If purchasing tickets from an individual online, look for local sellers whom you can meet in person to pick up the tickets.

Ask the seller to email you a picture of the tickets, including a receipt or other proof that the tickets are not counterfeit. Scrutinize the picture carefully, looking for any alterations or inaccuracies, and cross-check the seat assignment with the map on the venue’s Web site before you buy.

Meet in a public place and do not go alone. The “seller” could be a scammer who is looking for a victim to rob. He/she knows where you’ll be and that you’re carrying a lot of money, which makes you an easy target.

When meeting the seller, ask for some identification, and write it down in case you need it later.

When buying from an individual through an online exchange, don’t be lured away from the Web site by the seller. Even if you met the seller on the exchange Web site, the company may not guarantee any lost money if a transaction occurs outside their domain.

If you buy tickets through an online auction, choose a seller with a long, continuous, history of satisfied customers. Scammers can hijack old accounts, so make sure they have recently bought or sold other items.

If possible, don’t pay with cash. Use Paypal, credit card or personal check, which offer some protection if the tickets turn out to be fake. Never pay with a cashier’s check or wire money to the seller; you’ll have no way to get your money back if the tickets never arrive.

The most reliable way to purchase tickets is through a ticket broker. Many of them provide buyer protections that include money-back guarantees on the legitimacy of tickets. Check them out first at www.bbb.org.

For more information, contact the Wisconsin BBB at 414-847-6000 (metro Milwaukee), (920)-734-4352 (Appleton) or 1-800-273-1002 (elsewhere in Wisconsin).

The Better Business Bureau serving Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization that brings 65 years of experience in fostering ethical business practices; providing dispute resolution alternatives; offering consumer and business education; and promoting customer service excellence. Our Reliability Reports provide the general public with critical information about companies both locally and nationally. To check on a company or charity visit www.wisconsin.bbb.org or call 1-800-273-1002.