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Minnesota Attorney General Ellison is warning Taylor Swift fans in Minnesota of various ticket scams related to Swift’s “Eras” Tour, which comes to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis Friday and Saturday.

Reports indicate that scammers have taken advantage of Swift’s fans, or “Swifties,” with some losing as much as $2,500 for tickets that don’t exist or never arrive. The Better Business Bureau has reportedly received almost 200 complaints nationally related to the Swift tour. The complaints range from refund struggles to outright scams.

Buying second-hand tickets online is inherently risky, and scammers can easily fake screenshots of tickets that don’t exist or have already been purchased, perhaps more than once, a press release states.

With the re-emergence of live concerts after the pandemic, it is important to take precautions to avoid bad actors who may take advantage of fans’ desire to see their favorite performers in concert.

“Ticket scammers are nothing but trouble and what they do is illegal,” Ellison said. “I won’t stand by knowing there may be scammers out there trying to deceive Minnesota Swifties and other fans. If you believe you were taken advantage of, please contact my office to file a complaint.”

Ellison asked people to remember the following rules when purchasing tickets online:

Know your vendor. Make sure you are buying your tickets from a trustworthy website, especially before you provide any personal financial information. Anyone can set up a “spoof” website with a web address that is similar to the legitimate ticket seller’s web address. Aside from potential licensing and trademark violations, spoof websites may offer consumers overpriced or counterfeit tickets and expose the consumer to identity theft.

Do your research. If you are unfamiliar with a particular ticket seller, research the seller on the Better Business Bureau’s national website.

Use credit. If you purchase tickets online, especially through an online auction site, it is recommended that you complete your transaction using a credit card. Purchasing tickets with a credit card often provides you with protections that you would not otherwise have if you purchased the tickets using cash, check, debit cards, or apps like Venmo and Cash App. Protections provided by credit card transactions include the ability to dispute a charge if an event is cancelled or if you receive counterfeit tickets that a venue refuses to honor. Try choosing ticket sellers with long histories of satisfied customers, and make sure the online ticket price amount is listed in United States dollars.

Shop securely. Always double-check your URL before purchasing tickets online. If a website’s address begins with “https,” the “s” indicates that the website is secure. (Remember “s” for “secure.”) Typically, the “s” will not appear in the web address until you access the order page of the site, where you will be asked to enter your personal information. Secure websites should also display a closed lock graphic in the browser, generally located to the left of the URL in the address bar. Secure websites take precautions to ensure that the personal information you provide cannot be seen or copied by others.

Inspect your tickets. If you plan to purchase tickets from a source other than an established venue or official outlet, you can physically inspect your tickets to reduce your risk of being turned away at the venue. Check the date, time, and location listed on the tickets to ensure that this information matches the accurate event details. Review the listed seat assignments and call the venue to ensure that they represent actual, valid seat assignments within the venue. The venue may also be able to provide you with information about the unique features of authentic tickets. Remember: if you’re getting a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Contact the Attorney General if you have a complaint. If you have a complaint regarding tickets you purchased online, please contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Action team at (651) 296-3353 (metro area), (800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota) or by completing a Fraud Report form online.