The roar of the crowd, the thrill of victory – these are the experiences sports fans crave. But, the excitement can be tinged with worry. Ticketing fraud, particularly in the high-demand world of professional sports, is a growing concern. From scalping bots snatching up prime seats to counterfeit tickets leaving fans stranded at the gate, these schemes erode revenue and fan trust.

At Showpass, we understand the unique challenges faced by sports ticketing teams. We've seen it all and would love to share how you can reduce fraud in your operations.

The Culprits of Sports Ticketing Fraud:

• Scalping Bots: These automated programs can buy up entire sections of desirable seats within seconds, leaving loyal fans out in the cold. This drives up prices on secondary markets, creating artificially high ticket prices that benefits no one but the scalpers.
• Counterfeit Tickets: Sophisticated operations can produce near-perfect replicas of legitimate tickets, allowing unauthorized entry and diminishing the value of real tickets. This not only hurts revenue but also leaves fans feeling cheated. While these are likely a fraction of actual fraudulent sports scam reports, the Better Business Bureau reported over 16,000 cases in 2022 alone.

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The Major Defences to Look Out For

Ticketing companies should provide a powerful arsenal to tackle these threats:

• Fort Knox-Level Payment Processes: Companies should use industry-leading, PCI-DSS compliant processors with advanced encryption and real-time fraud detection. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized credit card transactions and protects sensitive data.
• Multi-Layered Anti-Counterfeiting Defence: Tickets must contain hidden security features. Unique identifiers embedded within the code and dynamic barcodes that change with every transaction make replicating tickets nearly impossible.
• Fighting Charge Backs: Look for ticketing partners that have an anti-fraud team that monitor transactions and can detect and combat fraudulent chargebacks.

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Beyond Technology: Proactive Strategies for Sports Teams & Venues

More than just technology, anti-fraud practises go beyond fancy tech:

• Staff Training: Red Flag Reporting stressed regular training sessions equip your team with the latest knowledge on fraud tactics to identify suspicious activity. This allows them to proactively address potential issues before they escalate.
• Data-Driven Insights for Smarter Decisions: Reporting tools and CS teams provide valuable data on buying patterns. Analyzing this data can help you identify anomalies and suspicious behaviours associated with scalping bots or fraudulent purchases, enabling you to take preventive action.
• Open Communication is Key: Maintaining open communication is crucial. A dedicated support team must be readily available to address your specific security concerns and provide ongoing guidance.

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Together, We Can Win the Fight Against Fraud

By combining a great ticketing partner with advanced technology and proactive measures, you can significantly reduce the impact of ticketing fraud for your team. This not only protects your revenue, but also fosters trust with your fans, creating a winning experience for everyone.

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