With the new English Premier League season kicking off in a matter of weeks, football fans need to stay vigilant against ticket scams, which are on the rise.
The number of football ticket scam cases reported by Lloyds Bank’s customers increased by almost a third – 32% – during the 2023/24 season compared to the previous one.
And last season, victims of the scams lost £177 on average, though some have lost thousands.
In light of the report findings, Lloyds Bank has urged fans to buy tickets via official channels only.
Social media contributing to rising scams
Lloyds Bank revealed that more than half – 56% – of the scam cases reported for 2023/24 began on Facebook, including its Marketplace, and 23% began on X, formerly Twitter.
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With big events often sold out, avid fans sometimes turn to sites like Facebook Marketplace, which is where scammers can pose as sellers and create posts for tickets that don’t exist. These posts will frequently include images of real tickets to convince fans that they’re genuine.
The victim will then be asked to make a payment, usually by bank transfer. Lloyds Bank noted that many people are unaware that bank transfers were not designed as an online payment method and offer little protection if something goes wrong.
Once the money has left the victim’s account, the scammer disappears and the victim is left out of pocket and with no ticket.
Who are the victims?
The most commonly affected group is those aged 25-34, accounting for 29% of all cases, followed by 18-24-year-olds at 27%.
And it’s the fans of some of the league’s biggest teams – for whom ticket demand is high – who are the most likely targets.
Last season, Liverpool and Arsenal fans fell victim most often, but the fans of all major clubs are at high risk. Tickets for international matches and cup finals are also regularly falsely advertised.
And Lloyds Bank warned that it’s not just football fans who need to stay vigilant – any major event where demand is likely to exceed supply is a potential risk. Earlier this year, the bank estimated that its customers who were eager to see Taylor Swift’s Eras tour recorded an average loss of £332 each and a collective loss of £1m to ticket scams.
How to stay safe
Lloyds Bank has compiled its top tips for buying football tickets so fans can stay safe this season:
Beware of social media: Scammers use social media to advertise tickets that don’t exist. If you’re on the hunt for one, always search for it yourself from a trusted source.
Trust your instincts: Unrealistically low prices are one way fraudsters lure victims, so if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But if demand for tickets is high, they can also charge more to trick desperate fans.
Make it official: Only buy directly from the clubs or their official partners. The Premier League has a guide on how to purchase tickets safely. As well as urging fans to buy directly, it has said that football clubs will provide details of authorised ticket partners on their official websites, and these may include legitimate ways for tickets to be resold.
‘Stick to official channels as your first line of defence’
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Passions run high when supporting your favourite football team, and missing out on the big match after falling victim to a ticket scam can be devastating.
“There are some simple tactics every fan needs to know. Always stick to official channels as your first line of defence, and avoid deals [that] look too good to be true.
“Most scams kick off on social media, where impostors create fake profiles to sell non-existent tickets. We’re calling on these firms to step up and tackle the fraudsters head-on.”
Related: Customers face ‘reimbursement lottery’ despite fall in APP scams
