Ticket scams happen when criminals sell tickets for major events – such as sports events, concerts and music festivals – but the tickets are fake or don’t exist.  

Criminals commonly use social media and websites in their scams: 

• Social media: Criminals can create fake profiles, posts or pages on social media to scam people looking for tickets. They may DM or message to advertise fake tickets, or reach out to you in groups, pages or posts. 

• Websites: Criminals can create fake websites to capture your personal information or card details or take your money. They can clone the websites of genuine organisations with subtle changes in the URL, branding or language that can indicate they are fraudulent.  

You may be sent or given tickets only to be told they are fake when you arrive at the venue. 

It is always safest to book tickets through official sellers that are members of the self-regulatory body the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), as anything else could be a scam. 

How You can protect yourself:

• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or “too good to be true” offers in emails and on social media. 

• Do your research on sites you are buying tickets from and read reviews from trusted sources. 

• If you’re told that a customer representative will be arranged to meet outside the venue, this is likely to be a scam. 

• Check website URLs for subtle changes which could indicate they are fraudulent. 

• Use the secure payment methods recommended by reputable online retailers and be wary of requests to pay by bank transfer 

• If possible, use a credit card when making purchases over £100 and up to £30,000 as you receive protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. 

• Try and book tickets through official sellers who are members or the self-regulatory body Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), as anything else could be a scam. 

EXAMPLE OF TICKET FRAUD:

Desperate to secure tickets to a sold-out concert, Nigel* posted a message on social media asking if anyone had tickets that they wanted to sell. Shortly after he was contacted by someone who had a couple of spare tickets. Nigel was elated. After a number of back-and-forth conversations Nigel was convinced the tickets were genuine, so he proceeded to make payment by bank transfer. The tickets never materialised and there was no further contact from the seller.

For more information about how you can protect yourself from fraud and scams click here.

*These case studies are based on insights from partners.