Some auditoriums and other venues are warning consumers about secondary market ticket brokers.
If you like to attend shows - chances are you've bought tickets online. Problem is - if you're doing a search and buying from the first site that pops up - there's a chance you're getting ripped off. These brokers have crafted legitimate looking websites, and often sell tickets at inflated prices, adding "service" fees. It's nothing new, but Carly Shank who works with Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield says 2014 has been the worst year for it yet:
"We've had a lot of high-profile events, and those are events that kind of help egg that problem along."
Shank says it was even an issue for a local production of The Nutcracker. She encourages buying tickets directly from a venue's website - and says the best option is to purchase tickets in person when possible.