With the Missouri Valley Conference basketball tournament just days away, the Better Business Bureau is warning fans about ticket scams.

If you by tickets from individuals on the street, through online auction, classified ads or bulletin boards you’re at a higher risk of getting scammed.

“Sports fans can get burned by purchasing counterfeit tickets or paying in advance for tickets that never arrive,” says Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO.

Here are some helpful tips provided by the BBB:

• Be careful buying tickets from someone on the street. When you get to the gate and find out your tickets are fake, the seller will be gone
• Look for BBB’s Accredited Business seal on the website and click on it to make sure it is real before making a purchase.
• If purchasing tickets online, choose a seller with a recent history of satisfied customers.
• Be wary of sellers who try to lure buyers from a legitimate site to another site for a “private” transaction.
• Pay with a credit card in case you need to challenge the purchase later.

For additional help, you can visit the BBB website.