New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a consumer alert advising New Yorkers to be cautious when purchasing tickets for upcoming Bad Bunny concerts. The warning follows reports from individuals who traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the musician’s shows and were denied entry after being told their tickets were invalid.
Bad Bunny, whose full name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, is scheduled to perform in San Juan through September 14, 2025. According to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), complaints have been received from New Yorkers who bought tickets but discovered they were fake upon arrival at the venue.
“Bad Bunny is a musical icon in New York, and scammers are taking advantage of his popularity to sell fake concert tickets,” said Attorney General James. “People have paid thousands of dollars to travel to Puerto Rico and see Bad Bunny perform, only to be turned away at the door because the tickets they were sold were fake. Too often, scammers take advantage of big events to dupe people out of their hard-earned money, and I am urging New Yorkers to take caution when purchasing their Bad Bunny concert tickets.”
The OAG has released several recommendations for consumers seeking secondhand concert tickets:
– Verify if there is an official or verified source designated by the venue or performer for buying or reselling tickets.
– When using ticket resellers, select reputable platforms that offer refund guarantees if issues arise. Illegitimate sellers may provide counterfeit or misrepresented tickets.
– Avoid paying with cash or wire transfers since recovering funds from fraudulent transactions via these methods can be difficult. Credit card or PayPal payments may allow buyers to dispute charges if scams occur.
– Be skeptical of unusually low prices or high-pressure sales tactics and ask sellers for proof of purchase.
– Research online ticket brokers using resources such as the Better Business Bureau before making purchases; established brokers might charge higher prices but often provide additional protections like refunds or replacement tickets.
– Exercise caution with home-printed tickets as they can be duplicated and sold multiple times; only the first person presenting a valid barcode will gain entry.
Victims of ticket scams are encouraged to contact the Office of the Attorney General at 1-800-771-7755 or file an online complaint.
