WASHINGTON - The Better Business Bureau warns the public that there are only 250,000 tickets available for the inauguration and those tickets are free, so don't bother buying tickets offered for sale.
The tickets are given out by members of Congress. They are not to be sold by any one. Many Americans want to be a part of history and looking to buy tickets but the tickets on Web sites and other places, but selling them are fraudulent.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is responsible for giving the tickets to members of Congress. Congressional members in turn will give out the tickets to constituents the day before the inauguration. No one else has the authority to give out tickets. Online brokers and other trying to sell tickets are doing so fraudulently.
Sen. Feinstein (D-Calif.), the chair of the Inaugural Committee, plans to introduce a bill that would make scalping inaugural tickets a misdemeanor crime. For members of Congress to sell any tickets it's a violation of Congress' code of ethics.
If you have been ripped off buying inauguration tickets you can contact the Better Business Bureau or your local state attorney general's office.
