Walking around campus before a big game, some stranger is bound to offer you a ticket. But that seemingly generous scalper might end up in handcuffs.

Capt. Grant Williams of the Department of Public Safety said ticket scalping is illegal as soon a ticket is sold for greater than its face value.

But sometimes the line gets blurred. Few scalpers at big events actually sell the tickers for their face value, Williams said, which is why DPS tries to ask the scalpers to leave the premises. DPS faces other obstacles, though.

‘I don’t know where they come up with all these tickets to tell you the truth,’ Williams said.

As recently as last year, DPS uncovered schemes where scalpers have used computer programs and printers to create their own tickets to sell to the crowds.

Then again, it’s not illegal to buy these tickets – or, for that matter, to be overcharged for them. But while those being scammed by scalpers might escape a fine, they won’t be showered with sympathy from Williams, either.

‘They’re just duping themselves,’ Williams said. ‘They know the cost of the ticket.’

Published on January 31, 2005 at 12:00 pm