Brits have been urged to stop and think
Brits are being cautioned that they could find themselves hundreds of pounds out of pocket this summer.
Victims lost an average of £215 to football ticketing scams during the current Premier League season — with some losing thousands — as fraudsters capitalise on demand for high-profile matches. The figures, released by Lloyds Bank, reveal that football ticket fraud has surged by 36% over the past six months compared with the same period a year ago, while the total amount stolen has rocketed by 42%.
Almost a third – 32% – of all ticket scams are now linked to football, highlighting how criminals are deliberately targeting supporters desperate to secure seats for major fixtures. With the World Cup, co-hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, just weeks away, ministers and banks fear the problem will worsen considerably.
Supporters chasing tickets for top clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are amongst those most frequently targeted, alongside showpiece occasions such as the FA Cup Final and Champions League Final.
Fraudsters typically entice victims with offers of hard-to-obtain tickets, before vanishing once payment has been made. Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: “Fraudsters thrive on urgency and target fans looking for hard-to-get tickets for big-name fixtures.
“Most of the football ticket scams we see start on social media – especially Facebook and Instagram – before the criminal moves the buyer onto WhatsApp and insists on a bank transfer to pay. It’s incredibly convincing, and we don’t want fans to lose their money trying to support their team.”
The alert has been issued as the Home Office joins forces with Lloyds to promote its Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Fraud minister Lord Hanson said: “As excitement builds for the World Cup, fraudsters are preparing to exploit loyal fans searching for tickets.
“I urge all football supporters hunting for tickets to Stop! Think Fraud and show fraudsters the red card. Only buy directly from FIFA or the FIFA resale marketplace.”
Experts warn the scams typically start with advertisements on social media marketplaces offering last-minute tickets.
Victims are then urged to shift the conversation to private messaging platforms, where they face pressure to send money via bank transfer – a payment method preferred by criminals as it is hard to trace.
In numerous instances, buyers are offered QR codes, pre-release tickets or places on waiting lists that simply don’t exist. There are also concerns that the elevated cost of World Cup travel and tickets could result in victims suffering even greater financial losses.
One supporter, Edinburgh barber Robert Paterson, said he had already come across suspicious listings while searching for seats. “Like any passionate Scotland supporter, I’m over the moon we’ve qualified for the World Cup for the first time in nearly 20 years,” he said.
“But I’ve definitely come across a number of questionable listings, with many tickets appearing either massively overpriced or outright dodgy – especially on Facebook.”
Authorities are urging supporters to purchase exclusively from official vendors, steer clear of bank transfers and remain vigilant towards deals that seem too good to be true.
Those who believe they have been targeted are encouraged to report the matter to Action Fraud, as part of a broader crackdown backed by a £31million investment in a new online crime centre designed to dismantle fraudulent networks.
