Avoid disappointment this summer: be alert to the signs of ticket fraud

Summer is approaching, and with some of the biggest names in music hitting the road, Warwickshire Police is urging people to be careful to avoid falling victim to ticket fraud.

In 2023, 8,700 victims were conned out of a staggering £6.7 million through online ticket scams. This works out at an average of £772 per victim. And this is just the cases police know about.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hainsworth from Warwickshire Police Economic Crime Unit said: “So many shows sell out quickly and if you’re desperate to go it can be tempting to buy from a less than reputable source.

“Unfortunately, the nature of ticket fraud means the higher the demand for an event, the more attractive the event is for fraudsters.

“Follow our advice to make sure you get to see your favourite artist without falling victim to ticket fraud.”

How to protect yourself from ticket fraud:

• Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known ticketing website.
• Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud.
• The password you use for your email account, as well as any other accounts you use to purchase tickets, should be different from all your other passwords. Use three random words to create a strong and memorable password, and enable 2-step verification (2SV).
• Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets.
• Is the vendor a member of STAR? If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints. For more information visit star.org.uk/buy_safe.
• If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.