Stay Scam-Savvy: PayPal and Venmo Encourage Consumers to Stay Safe When Purchasing Tickets

As summer heats up with concerts, festivals, and long-awaited vacations, millions of Americans are purchasing tickets to unforgettable experiences. In fact, according to IBISWorld, online ticket sales in the U.S. reached approximately $12.7 billion in 2024. At the same time, ticket scams remain one of the most common types of consumer fraud, especially during high-demand seasons like summer. Consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, representing a 25% increase over the previous year, the Federal Trade Commission reported.

To help consumers enjoy every moment with confidence, PayPal and Venmo are sharing essential tips on how to spot and avoid ticket scams. We aim to empower our customers to protect their purchases and make the most of summer without missing a beat.

• Use PayPal or Venmo for Purchase Protection: Both PayPal and Venmo offer Purchase Protection for eligible goods or service transactions, which can provide recourse if something goes wrong with an eligible payment at no extra cost to you.
• Buy Through Official Channels: It's usually safest to purchase tickets from verified primary sellers or authorized resale platforms. Be careful when purchasing through an unverified source like social media as you might fall victim to a scam.

• Only Use "Friends and Family" Payments for Individuals You Know and Trust : Scammers often pressure buyers into using "Friends and Family" payments, which are not covered by Purchase Protection. Reserve these payments for people you know and trust.
• Avoid Unusual Payment Requests: Scammers may urgently request payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency - making it more difficult and usually impossible to recover your money. These are not legitimate payment requests and should be deleted or ignored. You can also forward suspicious messages to phishing@PayPal.com and report scams to law enforcement.
• Stay Alert with Security Tools: PayPal and Venmo take additional steps to safeguard customer funds through real-time security alerts when potential scams are detected related to person-to-person payments. Pay attention to any alerts you may receive within the apps.
• Trust Your Gut: If something seems wrong or is too good to be true, it probably is. When in doubt, reach out to verified support channels for help.
• Stay Updated on Fraud Trends: Learning about the latest scams is key to avoiding them. Check out free educational resources from PayPal and Venmo.

With a little extra caution and the right tools, you can focus on what really matters-enjoying the shows, festivals, and moments that make summer unforgettable.

To learn more about how to protect yourself from scams visit PayPal's Security Center.