With concerts, festivals, and major sporting events selling out fast, many fans turn to social media, online marketplaces or fan forums to try and grab last-minute tickets. But while you might get lucky, you also risk falling victim to a ticket scam.
Here’s how it usually works:
A scammer advertises tickets that seem legitimate. They ask you to transfer money directly to their bank account, promising to send the tickets by post or email. But once you’ve paid, nothing arrives and the seller vanishes. Unfortunately, these fraudsters often target dozens of victims with the same trick.
Not only do you miss out on the event, but you also lose your hard-earned cash.
North Yorkshire Police is urging everyone to be cautious when buying tickets from unofficial sources. To help you stay safe, check out expert guidance from Get Safe Online: https://www.getsafeonline.org/buyingticketssafely/
Top tips include:
- Buy from authorised ticket sellers or reputable reselling platforms
- Avoid bank transfers – use secure payment methods that offer buyer protection
- Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true
- Check the platform offers fan protection – regulated ticket marketplaces should offer a money-back guarantee if anything goes wrong.
