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How to Avoid Ticket Scalping

5/12/2026 12AM

To avoid exorbitant prices, bogus tickets and other hazards associated with unauthorized sellers, Allied Solutions Center advises patrons to purchase only online at TheCenterPresents.org, by phone (317) 843-3800 or in person at the Payne & Mencias Palladium’s Fifth Third Bank Box Office.


Look for Authorized Sources and Buy Concert Tickets Safely

 

You've been waiting months for this show. You grab your phone the morning tickets go on sale, and within minutes, they're gone. Then you spot some on StubHub or a random resale site, marked up three times the original price. Sound familiar?

 

Ticket scalping has long been a thorn in the side of live event fans, but the problem has exploded in the digital age. Bots can sweep up thousands of tickets in seconds, long before real fans ever get a chance. Here's what you need to know about resellers, ticket scalping and ticket scams, and how to make sure you're buying tickets the right way.

What Is Ticket Scalping, and Why Is It a Problem?

Ticket scalping refers to the practice of buying event tickets at face value and reselling them at a significant markup, often far beyond what most fans can reasonably afford. While resale itself isn't always illegal, the tactics involved – particularly the use of automated bots – frequently are. When fans fall prey to ticket scams, they can end up losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars on tickets that turn out to be counterfeit, duplicated or never delivered.

How Ticket Bots Work and Why They’re So Hard to Stop

Scalpers rely heavily on automated software, commonly called ticket bots, to purchase large quantities of tickets the moment they go on sale. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has flagged bot activity as a growing concern for consumers, and Congress even passed the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act in 2016 to combat the practice, though enforcement remains inconsistent.

 

The result? Fans refresh their screens furiously on sale day, only to find shows sold out in minutes. Seconds later, those same tickets appear on resale sites at two, three or even 10 times face value.

Red Flags to Watch for When Buying Tickets Online

Before you hand over your credit card on any ticketing site, pause and look for these warning signs:

  • Sites that mimic official venues: Scalpers sometimes build websites that look nearly identical to the real thing
  • Prices dramatically above face value: A clear sign you're on a resale platform, not the official vendor
  • Vague seller information: No physical address, no verified contact, no official affiliation with the venue
  • Pressure tactics: Countdown timers, "only 2 left!" warnings, and urgent language designed to rush your decision
  • Unusual procedures: Statements such as “Tickets available 24 hours prior to performance”
  • Requests for wire transfers or gift cards as payment: A guaranteed scam

 

When in doubt, close the tab and go directly to the venue's official website.

How to Avoid Ticket Scams

A few safety habits can go a long way toward avoiding ticket scams:

  • Buy from the official venue website first: This lowers the odds of ending up on a copycat site or overpaying through unauthorized resellers, who often use popular sites such as StubHub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek.
  • Be careful with paid ads and sponsored search results: The FTC warns that scammers often use paid placement and social media to drive people to fake ticket websites.
  • Use a credit card: Choose payment methods with buyer protection, since cash, wire transfers, and similar methods can leave you with little recourse.
  • Read the delivery details: Legitimate sellers should clearly explain when and how tickets will arrive.
  • Treat screenshots and paper printouts with caution for digital events: Many venues now use mobile or digital delivery, so a screenshot may not be enough to get you in. For electronically delivered tickets, screenshots or paper tickets may be a red flag.

The Safest Way to Buy Tickets: Go Straight to the Source

The single most effective way to avoid ticket scalping is to purchase directly through the official, authorized ticket vendor.

 

If you're attending a performance at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana, there's only one authorized source for tickets. Allied Solutions Center is the sole authorized ticket vendor for all events at the Payne & Mencias Palladium, the Tarkington and the Studio Theater. Tickets purchased anywhere else may not be valid at the door.

 

You have three easy options to buy with confidence:

  • Online: Browse the full lineup and purchase tickets securely on our website, org. Print-at-home and mobile ticket options are available, so you can be in your seat without ever touching a printer.
  • By phone: Call the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at (317) 843-3800 or toll-free at (877) 909-2787(ARTS). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
  • In person: Stop by the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at the west entrance of the Payne & Mencias Palladium, off 3rd Avenue SW. Service fees are waived for in-person purchases – a nice perk for planning ahead.

 

The box office also opens two hours before Payne & Mencias Palladium performances and one hour before Tarkington and Studio Theater events, so last-minute ticket buyers aren't left out in the cold.

Get First Access to Local Entertainment

One of the smartest ways to beat scalpers entirely is to get into the queue before the general public. Allied Solutions Center offers early ticket access to Center Presents subscribers, donors, and members of the eClub, our free email list. Join the eClub to stay ahead of on-sale announcements and never miss tickets for a show you want to see – look for the “Sign Up” button on our home page.

 

Ticket scalping isn't going away anytime soon, but fans who know where to look (and where not to look) can almost always find a way to attend the shows they love without overpaying or getting burned. Buy directly, buy early, and buy from the source.

 

Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization that aims to engage and inspire the Indiana community through enriching arts experiences. We are responsible for the operation and programming of a multidisciplinary performing arts campus in Carmel, Indiana, that presents scores of events each year and provides space and support services for six resident companies: Actors Theatre of Indiana, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, Civic Theatre, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, and Indiana Wind Symphony. Explore our upcoming events and experiences, or support our work and the expansion of the arts today!