BBB Warns Triangle Fans of Ticket Scams Ahead of March Madness

Scammers target college basketball fans as ACC Tournament comes to Charlotte

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The Better Business Bureau of the Eastern Carolinas is warning basketball fans in the Triangle area about ticket scams ahead of the upcoming ACC Tournament in Charlotte. The BBB cautions that scammers may try to sell fraudulent tickets, often in the form of screenshots that won't be accepted at the venue. Ticketmaster has also recently launched new mobile ticket security features to combat scams.

Why it matters

Ticket scams can leave fans disappointed and out of money, especially during high-profile sporting events like the ACC Tournament. The BBB wants to educate consumers on the telltale signs of fraudulent tickets to avoid falling victim to these scams.

The details

The BBB says scammers may try to sell screenshot or duplicated tickets, which won't be accepted at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte where the ACC Tournament is being held. Ticketmaster has rolled out new mobile ticket security features, including a moving light effect and the inability to screenshot tickets, to combat ticket scams.

  • The ACC Tournament is taking place this week in Charlotte.
  • In 2024, the BBB's Scam Tracker recorded more than 140 reports of ticket scams connected to live events.

The players

Better Business Bureau of the Eastern Carolinas

A regional office of the Better Business Bureau that serves North and South Carolina, warning consumers about ticket scams ahead of the ACC Tournament.

Ticketmaster

A major ticket vendor that recently launched new mobile ticket security features to prevent ticket scams, including blocking the ability to screenshot tickets.

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What they’re saying

“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

“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.”

— NCAA

What’s next

The Spectrum Center in Charlotte will host first round NCAA tournament games in 2027, in addition to this week's ACC Tournament.

The takeaway

Fans should be wary of ticket sellers offering screenshots or duplicated tickets, and instead purchase tickets directly from authorized sources like Ticketmaster to avoid falling victim to scams during high-profile sporting events.