Kansas State Fair issues warning about fraudulent ticket sales
By: Joy Whitman
Hutchinson, Kan. (May 9, 2018) – Several customers attempting to buy concert tickets for the 2018 Kansas State Fair have had to challenge the purchase with their credit card companies, after learning the websites weren’t authorized to sell tickets for this year’s NexTech Wireless Grandstand Concert Series.
“We’ve had a handful of customers reach out to us after they thought they had purchased concert tickets online,” said Joy Whitman of the Kansas State Fair. “The sites contained the words Kansas State Fair in the web address, but the customers later received email confirmation that was incomplete or had the wrong customer information.”
Employees at the Kansas State Fair researched the sales and found the seats listed on the tickets hadn’t been sold or booked. A Google search also produced several websites that have Kansas State Fair in the address, but direct customers to non-fair sites.
The Kansas State is working to have the fraudulent sites removed from Google’s search engine.
The only legitimate online ticket seller for the Kansas State Fair is Etix, which can be accessed at kansasstatefair.com, under the “tickets” button. Additionally, tickets can be purchased by calling the Kansas State Fair or by visiting the box office in the Fair’s administration building.
“Buying directly from the Kansas State Fair ensures that customers will receive authentic tickets for the shows they want to see, and they’ll get them at a much better price,” Whitman said. “One site, Vividseats.com, is listing Beach Boy tickets for $167 each, while we’re selling them for only $25 or $35.”
Customers who suspect they’ve purchased fraudulent tickets should immediately contact the Kansas State Fair Box office at 620-669-3600.
