Boston police issue warning about counterfeit tickets as Bruins, Celtics head to playoffs

Boston police are warning fans to be careful and only buy from authorized sources when purchasing tickets to the upcoming NBA and NHL playoffs. 

Non-official vendors can sometimes be scammers, selling invalid or counterfeit tickets, the Boston Police Department said in an alert Thursday. 

“Fans who purchase tickets from a secondary source are taking a chance and do so at the buyer’s own risk,” the department said. “Officers want to proactively curb such activity and encourage buyers to only purchase from official vendors.”

The warning comes as the Celtics are scheduled to play in the NBA playoffs on Sunday and the Bruins are set to take on Toronto in the NHL playoffs on Saturday.

Here are some tips from the Better Business Bureau to avoid scams:

1. Purchase from the venue when possible.
2. Know the difference between a professional ticket reseller and unregulated, unlicensed ticket seller.
3. Look up seller/broker on BBB.org to see what other customers are saying. Check to see if they are a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers. Look up the seller on VerifiedTicketSource.com to confirm you are buying from a NATB-member resale company.
4. Use payment methods that come with protection.
5. Avoid “too good to be true” prices.