Consumer Alert: Be Wary of Offers to Purchase Tickets to the 2009 Presidential Inauguration

BALTIMORE, MD (November 24, 2008) – Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler is urging consumers to be wary of advertisements claiming to have tickets available for purchase for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. Tickets for the swearing-in event are not provided to the general public through the Inaugural Committee. Rather, tickets are limited and are only made available to the President elect, the Vice President elect, and members of the 111th Congress for distribution to their constituents. These tickets are being provided free of charge. Therefore, persons seeking to obtain tickets should contact their U.S. Senator or Representative to determine availability of tickets and their procedures for distributing their tickets.

The Attorney General further cautions citizens that tickets will not be distributed to the Congressional offices until the week before the Inauguration, and will therefore require in-person pick-up. Accordingly, ticket brokers and web sites claiming to have tickets currently available should not be trusted. In addition, since tickets are being made available to members of Congress free of charge, consumers should be highly skeptical of any fee associated with the distribution of these tickets.

Consumers who encounter people claiming to be selling tickets to the Inauguration may file complaints with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by visiting the Attorney General’s website, www.oag.state.md.us, or by calling (888) 743-0023.