Warning of 'alarming rise' in online ticket scams after fraudsters target UK fans
by Katie Elliott · ChronicleLiveBritons are being warned about an "alarming rise" in online ticket selling scams, leaving victims out of pocket by hundreds of pounds. Get Safe Online, a safety advocacy group, released findings showing that over 50% of consumers wrongly trust social media as a safe platform for buying or selling live event tickets.
Out of the 42% who admitted to purchasing tickets via social networks, one in eight said they had been scammed. The pressure to attend events is causing fans to take risks, with 27% conceding that "desperation" drove them to unsourced sellers, which became especially apparent during the Oasis ticket sale fiasco that left millions queued online and ultimately led many to resort to unofficial websites and social platforms—where plenty fell prey to scams.
Lloyds Bank data revealed that those snared by fraudulent Oasis ticket sales lost an average of £346 each, noting that 90% of these incidents happened through social media. CEO Tony Neate of Get Safe Online said, 'We are witnessing a perfect storm. Heightened fan passion, limited ticket supply, a single primary seller, a chaotic and pressurised on-sale primary ticketing process - all of which create an environment for fraudsters to operate with alarming success."
A specific case saw Carly J losing £100 to a scammer on Facebook Marketplace who posted a counterfeit concert ticket for sale. She recounted her ordeal: "Finding tickets for Fred Again felt like an impossible task after they first sold out. I thought I'd had a lucky break when I found a pair on Facebook Marketplace for £100. But after I paid, the seller vanished and deactivated their account", reports the Express.
"I felt completely powerless and foolish. I reached out to Facebook for help but got no response. The experience has really opened my eyes to how vulnerable we are on social media where there is no protection or anything you can do to get your money back."
Mr Neate said: "Fans urgently need safe alternatives with robust consumer protections. Increasing competition also opens the market, giving fans more choices about where and how they purchase tickets safely. It is essential that consumers are fully aware of the risks associated with purchasing tickets on social media and have access to multiple platforms and regulated marketplaces where they are protected by a guarantee."
Lloyds Bank previously shared the following top tips for people purchasing tickets online.
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