Shared from the 3/7/2018 The Providence Journal eEdition

THEATER

Beware of ‘Hamilton’ ticket scams

PROVIDENCE — With “Hamilton” on its way to PPAC in summer of 2019, scammers await to trap the unwary “Hamilton” fan desperate to get tickets.

If you see “Hamilton” tickets on sale now for the PPAC performance in the summer of 2019, said venue president J.L. “Lynn” Singleton on Tuesday, beware — because those tickets don’t yet exist.

Here are some tips to avoid ticket scams, from PPAC and the office of Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin:

■ If you can, buy directly from the source — the box office or official PPAC web site, ppacri.org. Singleton warned that counterfeit web sites that use PPAC’s name, logo or even a photo of the building can pay to be listed at the top of internet search engines. So make sure you are on the official web site.

■ If you see premium seats being sold at very high prices, you are likely on what is known as a secondary ticketing site. Use extreme caution, particularly in giving out your credit card number.

“Bait and switch” is a common practice, Singleton said. You may end up with a ticket, but not the one you ordered. Or perhaps no legitimate ticket at all.

■ If you are buying from an individual, the attorney general’s office said, arrange to meet the person in public and obtain the tickets before you hand over any money.

■ Do not take a photo of your ticket and post it on social media, no matter how happy you are to have scored. It’s an invitation to counterfeiters. Digital technology makes counterfeiting easy.

See this article in the e-Edition Here