MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) — As Brewers fans look for tickets during Milwaukee's postseason run, state consumer protection officials are warning buyers to be on the lookout for scams and counterfeit tickets.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said high demand for playoff tickets and sold-out games can create opportunities for scammers targeting fans eager to get into American Family Field.

“When there is demand for playoff tickets, scammers come out of the woodwork to rip off excited sports fans,” DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski said. “Be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, sellers offering ticket printouts or photocopies, and requests to pay by wire transfer or pre-paid debit card.”

DATCP recommends starting with official ticket sources whenever possible. For Brewers postseason games, those include Brewers.com/Postseason, the Brewers ticket office at 414-902-4000 and the official MLB Ballpark app.

Fans looking for tickets on the secondary market should use established resale platforms that offer buyer protections, according to DATCP.

The department also recommends checking the full price before completing a purchase because third-party resale websites may add fees that significantly increase the final cost.

Fans purchasing tickets near American Family Field should also be aware that the stadium has a designated Ticket Resale Zone adjacent to Helfaer Field. Reselling tickets outside designated areas is prohibited.

DATCP is also urging consumers to be careful about how they pay.

The agency recommends using a credit card because credit cards provide fraud protections and dispute options if a purchase turns out to be fraudulent.

For person-to-person transactions outside an established ticket marketplace, DATCP recommends using payment protections such as an escrow service and avoiding sellers who insist on bypassing those safeguards.

Fans should also be cautious when receiving digital tickets.

DATCP recommends using official in-app ticket transfers rather than accepting static PDF files, printed copies or screenshots of barcodes. Brewers tickets can be transferred through the MLB Ballpark app.

Consumers should also verify website addresses before entering payment information and watch for misspelled or lookalike domains designed to imitate legitimate ticketing websites.

DATCP recommends enabling multifactor authentication on ticketing and email accounts for additional security.

Other warning signs include prices dramatically below market value, sellers creating pressure to pay immediately and ticket offers through social media or classified advertisements.

DATCP said scammers may also compromise legitimate social media accounts and use them to appear as though a friend or acquaintance is selling tickets. If someone you know appears to be selling tickets online, officials recommend contacting that person directly through another method to confirm the offer is legitimate.

Consumers should avoid paying unfamiliar sellers with cash, debit cards, wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or peer-to-peer payment services such as Cash App or Venmo, according to DATCP.

Anyone who believes they were scammed should contact the ticket-selling platform and their credit card provider or financial institution as soon as possible.

Consumers can also file a complaint with the DATCP Bureau of Consumer Protection at ConsumerProtection.wi.gov or by calling the Consumer Information Hotline at 800-422-7128.

Victims are also encouraged to report suspected fraud to their local law enforcement agency.