It's officially tournament time.

Basketball fans will have the chance to see the Wolfpack, Tar Heels and Blue Devils in action this week for the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. 

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But bad actors know it's a time to scoop in and take advantage of fan excitement.

Ahead of the ACC and NCAA tournaments, the Better Business Bureau of the Eastern Carolinas is warning of ticketing scams, as college basketball fans in the Triangle may be hitting the road to see their teams advance. 

"You don’t want to be stuck with a screenshot of a ticket if they’re only accepting live barcodes," Alyssa Parker, with the BBB of the Eastern Carolinas said. 

As recently as 2024, the BBB's Scam Tracker recorded more than 140 reports of ticket scams  connected to live events. 

Even though NCAA tournament games aren't hosted in North Carolina this year, the Spectrum Center will host first round games in 2027 and it's hosting this week's ACC Tournament. 

Telltale signs: Avoiding screenshots

At this point, virtually no venue or licensed ticketing reseller will allow still images and screenshots for entry into a ticketed event. Receiving them from a ticket seller is a telltale sign that the ticket is fraudulent. 

From the NCAA:

"No, screenshots of tickets or any ticket produced by an unauthorized source will not be accepted. A mobile ticket must be provided on your mobile device or within your phone’s digital wallet to gain entry."

"Scammers may have sold that same screenshot to 50 other people. It’s also important to know how the venue operates, a lot of places don’t take screenshots anymore. They give you a live barcode that changes every thirty seconds," Parker says. 

Ticketmaster 

Just last week, Ticketmaster launched a new mobile ticket system, designed to protect against scam opportunities like March Madness. 

Ticketmaster unveils new 'live' tickets, to curb scamming

Last week, the ticket vendor announced changes to its mobile system, in which the ticket interface is changed to make them harder to duplicate. 

Screenshots and screen recordings are not only blocked, but now don't even work. A black or white screen will be saved to your camera roll, in lieu of the ticket, if you attempt to screenshot it. 

There is also a new light that moves within the ticket interface, which tilts in coordination with your phone. 

Tips to avoid ticketing scams

  • Purchase from the venue whenever possible. 
    • Know the difference between a professional ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited reseller), a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller), and a scammer selling scam tickets.
      • The National Association of Ticket Brokers allows you to look up sellers
        • Consider ticket insurance. For high-cost tickets, purchasing ticket insurance can help protect you if the event is canceled or rescheduled.
          • Use payment methods that come with protection. Credit cards have some forms of recourse. However, debit cards, wire transfers or cash transactions don't offer those protections.