Warnings Issued Over Fake Pirates' Ticket Scams
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Getting tickets to Pirates' home games down the stretch is not going to be easy, and it won't get any easier if the team makes the National League playoffs.
Now there's a buyer beware warning because of fake tickets that are hitting the market.
"Honestly, just to be there for the playoffs and a chance for the World Series game, that would be pretty cool," said Adam Hess, of Moon Township.
Hess is a season ticket holder on his way to pick up his Pirates' playoff tickets. He's like a lot of folks who are crossing their fingers that the Buccos will be in the post-season picture.
"It's unbelievable the excitement, how well they are playing, it's just great," said Frank Persia, of Penn Township. "After 20 some years to have a winning team in Pittsburgh, great!"
But with increased demand for tickets in the playoffs, there's a chance that someone might rip you off.
"It was a Steelers ticket and not a Pirates ticket," said Christian Jones, of the North Side.
KDKA's Rick Dayton: "What happened? What did they tell you when you got to the gate?"
Jones: "They told me the ticket was like a copy and fake. It looked just like a real ticket, but it wasn't a real ticket, so..."
Dayton: "You were out?"
Jones: "Yeah and I could have been arrested and was out of my money."
Dayton: "How much did you lose?"
Jones: "$400."
To guarantee that your tickets are good, buy them from the team.
But if you don't have season tickets, what do you do? The Pirates say if you go ahead and commit to season tickets for next year you will have priority when they do go on sale.
Persia: "I used to work down at the Penguins on security, and I would see people get turned away because of the… and they are good, the false tickets. Amazing how the scalpers can do that. But never."
Dayton: "And you are out at that point? You give somebody the money, there's no way you are going to find that guy again?
Persia: "That is correct. You are out and you just lost that money."
But season ticket holders like Hess know they are getting in.
"I'd say it's pretty cool. I'm 42-years-old, and I can remember when I was 6 or 7 and being excited about it, but it's been about that long since it's been that kind of feeling, so it's pretty cool to be here at this particular time," he said.
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