Football fans need to be wary of ticket scams as the new Premier League season approaches, according to a warning from Lloyds Bank. The bank reported a significant increase in cases of people being scammed when purchasing football tickets, with a 32% rise during the 2023/24 season compared to the previous season. On average, victims lost £177, with some losing over £1,000.
Individuals aged between 25 and 34 were the most susceptible to falling for football ticket scams, accounting for 29% of reported cases, followed closely by 18 to 24-year-olds at 27%. Lloyds Bank’s customer analysis revealed that supporters of Arsenal and Liverpool were the most frequent targets of scams last season, but fans of all major clubs are at risk.
Scammers often initiate their schemes by creating fake posts on social media or online marketplaces advertising non-existent tickets. They may use images of real tickets to deceive buyers into thinking they are legitimate. Once a payment, typically through bank transfer, is made, the fraudster vanishes, leaving the victim empty-handed.
To avoid falling victim to ticket scams, Lloyds Bank advises fans to purchase tickets from trusted sources such as the clubs directly. Official club websites provide information on authorized ticket partners for legitimate ticket resale. Fraudsters may lure victims with unrealistically low prices or exploit high demand for tickets by charging inflated prices.
According to Lloyds Bank, scammers target major events where ticket demand exceeds supply. Earlier this year, fans of Taylor Swift lost over £1 million to ticket scammers ahead of her UK tour. Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, emphasized the importance of sticking to official channels and avoiding deals that seem too good to be true.
The bank’s data was based on reports of purchase scams from Lloyds Banking Group customers between July 2023 and May 2024. Which? consumer law expert Lisa Webb advised purchasing tickets directly from clubs or authorized partners instead of social media. Victims of scams involving bank transfers should contact their bank immediately and report the incident to Action Fraud or Police Scotland.
Most major banks follow a voluntary reimbursement code and may reimburse customers targeted by scammers. If a bank initially rejects a claim, victims can escalate the issue to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Remaining vigilant, staying informed, and verifying the legitimacy of ticket sources are crucial steps to avoid falling prey to ticket scams.