Britons warn of ‘alarming rise’ in online scams costing victims hundreds of pounds | Personal Finance | Finance

Britons are being warned of a “worrying increase” in online ticket sales scams costing victims hundreds of pounds.

Research from the security group, Be Safe Onlinefound that more than half of consumers mistakenly believe social media is a safe place to buy or sell live event tickets.

Among the 42% of survey respondents who purchased tickets through social platforms, one in eight reported being scammed.

Ticket scarcity is pushing fans to take risks; 27% admit that “desperation” to attend an event has led them to buy from unverified sources. This problem was particularly evident during the highly anticipated Oasis ticket sale, where overwhelming demand forced millions of fans into a single online queue.

Unable to obtain tickets, thousands of fans turned to social media and unregulated websites, and many became victims. Lloyds Bank reported that victims of Oasis ticket fraud lost an average of £346 each, with 90% of incidents occurring on social media platforms.

Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, said: ‘We are witnessing a perfect storm. Increasing fan passion, limited ticket supply, a single primary vendor, primary ticketing process in chaotic and pressured sales; All of this creates an environment for fraudsters to operate with alarming success.”

A fan named Carly J lost £100 to a scammer advertising fake concert tickets via Facebook Marketplace.

He said: “Finding tickets for Fred Again felt like an impossible task after they first sold out. I thought I’d hit a lucky break when I found a pair for £100 on Facebook Marketplace. But after I paid, the seller disappeared and deactivated his account.”

“I felt completely powerless and stupid. I reached out to Facebook for help but received no response.

“This experience really opened my eyes to how vulnerable we are on social media, where there are no protections or anything you can do to get your money back.”

Mr Neate said: “Fans urgently need safe alternatives with strong consumer protection. Increasing competition is also opening up the market, giving fans more choice of where and how to buy tickets safely.

“It is crucial 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.”

How to avoid ticket fraud

Lloyds Bank previously shared the following important tips for people purchasing tickets online.

• Avoid social media: Scammers often use social media platforms to advertise fake tickets. Always look for tickets from reliable sources and avoid clicking ads or links from unverified profiles.

• Trust your instincts: If the ticket price seems unrealistically low, it may be a scam. High demand for tickets often means higher prices, and scammers use this to trick desperate buyers.

• Make it official: Only purchase tickets directly from official ticketing or resale platforms. Paying via bank transfer increases the risk of losing your money.