The Office of the New York Attorney General has issued a consumer alert regarding the sale of fake or invalid tickets for concerts by Puerto Rican musician Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known as Bad Bunny. The warning comes after reports from New Yorkers who purchased tickets and traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, only to be denied entry at the venue because their tickets were not valid. Bad Bunny is currently holding a concert residency in San Juan through September 14, 2025.
Attorney General Letitia James stated, “Bad Bunny es un ícono musical en Nueva York, y los estafadores se aprovechan de su popularidad para vender boletos falsos para conciertos. Hay personas que han pagado miles de dólares para viajar a Puerto Rico y ver a Bad Bunny en concierto, solo para ser rechazados en la puerta porque las entradas que les vendieron eran falsas. Con demasiada frecuencia, los estafadores se aprovechan de grandes eventos para estafar a la gente y robarles el dinero que tanto les ha costado ganar, y les pido a los neoyorquinos que tengan cuidado al comprar sus boletos para conciertos de Bad Bunny”.
The Attorney General’s office recommends several steps for consumers purchasing tickets on the secondary market to avoid scams:
– Check if the venue, artist, or event has an official and verified source for buying and reselling tickets.
– When using secondary markets, buy only from trusted resale platforms that guarantee refunds in case of problems. Illegitimate sellers may provide fake tickets or seats different from those advertised.
– Avoid paying with cash or through bank transfers; using credit cards or PayPal can offer more protection and options to dispute charges if the tickets are fraudulent.
– Be cautious of aggressive sales tactics and prices that seem unusually low. Consumers should ask sellers for proof of purchase and verify authenticity.
– Research online intermediaries before purchasing by checking reputations with the Better Business Bureau and consumer complaint sites. While reputable brokers may charge higher prices, they often provide additional protections such as replacement tickets or full refunds if issues arise.
– Exercise caution with print-at-home tickets since scammers can sell copies of the same ticket to multiple buyers. Venues generally admit only the first person whose ticket is scanned.
Those who believe they have been victims of a scam are encouraged to contact the New York Attorney General’s office at 1-800-771-7755 or file an online complaint.
