Here’s the reality: The Civil War football game scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3, in Autzen Stadium between the Oregon State University Beavers and the University of Oregon Ducks — with a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line — is sold out.

So, although some legitimate ticket-holders might be tempted to sell their seats for four or five times the going rate (which is legal in Oregon except in Portland), the Oregon Department of Justice is trying to prevent the annual heartbreak of those fans who buy fake Civil War tickets online.

“We generally get complaints after the fact,” said Andrea Rodgers, a spokeswoman for the DOJ’s consumer fraud division. She said that Oregon Attorney General John Kroger and the DOJ are monitoring some online sites for fake tickets, anticipating that scammers will “kick it up a notch” because of all the excitement over UO and OSU being at the top of the Pacific-10 football conference. If OSU wins, it will be its first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1965; UO last competed in 1995.

Rodgers said there’s no accurate number on how many people a year are scammed by fake Civil War tickets because of overlapping jurisdictions and reporting methods. Selling a fake ticket is a misdemeanor crime of criminal possession of a forged instrument and second-degree forgery. The maximum penalty is a year in jail and restitution. The AG’s office is involved because selling a fake ticket falls under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

So how do you know if you are just lucky to find someone who won’t be able to attend the Civil War game and is selling you a golden (if overpriced) opportunity to see football history in the making? Some tips:

• Buy from a reputable ticket distributor that guarantees the validity of the ticket and on-time delivery.

• Use a credit card for any online purchase. If the tickets you purchased are never delivered, are not in the advertised section or are counterfeit, consumers can dispute the charge.

• If using Craigslist or eBay, meet the seller face-to-face at a public place. Ask questions about the seats and seller. Get reliable contact information from the sellers in case the tickets are counterfeit.

• Never wire money to someone you do not know.

• Confirm that the location of your seat corresponds with a section, row and seat in the stadium.

• Get a good sense of what the general ticket prices are, and be highly suspicious of any offers out of that general range.

• If you go to Autzen Stadium on game day, you’re entering prime fake ticket territory, according to the DOJ. Scammers use color printers to create very real- looking tickets and try to sell them at the game for quick cash to fans desperate to get into the game.

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a fake ticket scam, call the Consumer Hotline at (877) 877-9392.