Britons are being warned of an “alarming rise” on online ticket selling scams costing victims hundreds of pounds.
Research from safety group, Get Safe Online, revealed that over half of consumers mistakenly believe social media is a secure place to buy or sell live event tickets.
Among the 42% surveyed who purchased tickets through social platforms, one in eight reported being scammed.
Ticket scarcity is pushing fans to take risks, with 27% admitting that “desperation” to attend an event led them to buy through unverified sources. This issue was particularly evident during the highly anticipated Oasis ticket sale, where overwhelming demand forced millions of fans into a single online queue.
Thousands of fans, unable to secure tickets, turned to social media and unregulated websites, where many became victims. Lloyds Bank reported victims of Oasis ticket scams lost an average of £346 each, with 90% of incidents occurring on social media platforms.
Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, commented: ‘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.”
One fan, Carly J, lost £100 to a fraudster advertising a fake concert ticket through Facebook Marketplace.
She said: “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.
“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.”
How to avoid a ticket scam
Lloyds Bank previously shared the following top tips for people purchasing tickets online.
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Avoid social media: Fraudsters often use social media platforms to advertise fake tickets. Always search for tickets from trusted sources and avoid clicking on ads or links from unverified profiles.
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Trust your instincts: If a ticket price seems unrealistically low, it could be a scam. High demand for tickets often means higher prices, which scammers use to trick desperate buyers.
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Make it official: Only purchase tickets directly from official ticketing or reselling platforms. Paying by bank transfer increases the risk of losing your money.
