Credit: Getty Images
3 min read
Banks have issued warnings after seeing an increase in ticket scams, with many targeting Taylor Swift’s Eras tour and football fans ahead of the sporting season.
Football season is starting again, Taylor Swift kicks off a highly-anticipated five-night run at Wembley… Whether you’re a music fan or sports are more your thing, there’s always plenty of exciting events to attend over summer. Between the festivals, outdoor cinemas and everything in between, summer is ripe for snapping up tickets.
While most of the time buying tickets for events is a simple process, it seems, unfortunately, that ticket scams are on the rise. Research by Nationwide Building Society found that more than one in three people aged 16-34 have bought an event ticket that turned out to be fake, or know someone who has been targeted. Analysis by Lloyds Bank found that thousands of people have fallen victim to Taylor Swift ticket scams in particular, losing an average of £332 each. “For her legion of dedicated Swifties, the excitement is building ahead of Taylor’s Eras Tour,” explained Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, ahead of Swift’s first-round of shows at Wembley in June. “However, cruel fraudsters have wasted no time in targeting her most loyal fans as they rush to pick up tickets for her must-see concerts.”
And, it’s not just Taylor Swift gigs being targeted. Lloyds also found reports of football ticket scams increased by around a third last season, with victims losing £177 on average.
So, whether it’s a festival, sporting event or concert, just how can you stay safe from ticket scams this summer? Here’s what the experts say…
Be wary of social media
You should always take a cautious approach to tickets being sold or re-sold over social media, with platforms like Facebook accounting for over half of football ticket scams, according to Lloyds. “Most scams kick-off on social media, where impostors create fake profiles to sell non-existent tickets,” warns Ziegler.
Use official websites
It may seem obvious, but sticking to official ticket vendors for the event you’re attending means you have the best chance of avoiding being scammed. Nationwide advises: “It’s always best to book through official sellers that are members of the self-regulatory body of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR).”
Credit: Getty
Ask yourself: is it too good to be true?
The old motto of ‘is it too good to be true?” is important to remember when buying tickets. “We want to remind anyone going to a festival or event to double check that what they are buying is the real deal,” expresses Jim Winters, Nationwide’s director of economic crime. “Taking time out might seem like going to the back of the queue but if you see an offer that is too good to be true, it probably is.”
Think about your payment method
Credit and debit cards can provide you with greater levels of protection, even when buying from official ticket vendors. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 means that, if you purchase something over £100 (and less than £30,000) on a credit card, your card company has a legal responsibility to intervene if there’s a problem, meaning you may be able to get your money back for goods or services that are broken, faulty or don’t exist. Some banks offer to ‘reverse the transaction’ through a chargeback system on similar issues with debit cards, too, but this isn’t always guaranteed. “Buying directly from reputable, authorised platforms is the only way to guarantee you’re paying for a genuine ticket,” says Ziegler. “Even then, always pay by debit or credit card for the greatest protection.”
Ziegler also warns that bank transfers can often signal that the transaction may be a scam. “If you’re being asked to pay by bank transfer, particularly from a seller you’ve found on social media, that should immediately set alarm bells ringing,” she says.
Images: Getty
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