The Rising Risk of Online Ticket Scams

Nearly half of all concert ticket scams start on Facebook, which has become the platform most used by scammers and innocent victims looking for the best bargains via Facebook group pages. 

Ticket frauds usually take place when tickets first go on sale and when the event is nearing the date, when demand is highest. Scammers create fake adverts, posts or listings on social media with offers and add-ons such as VIP access. Scammers often ask for upfront payments, but once the payment is made, the tickets do not come through or are fake.

How to protect yourself from ticket scams?

If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Some simple steps can help:

• Only buying tickets from trusted sources. If in doubt, it is useful to check if a ticket seller is a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), a UK government-approved sales body where vendors need to sign up to a Code of Practice to ensure that ticket buyers are not scammed. 
• Paying for tickets with a credit card or via payment platforms such as PayPal which offer a better chance of getting the money back if someone becomes a victim of fraud. 
• Using different email accounts for activity such as ticket purchases to insulate sensitive data held on personal emails. 
• Using strong passwords for all online accounts (ideally, comprising three random words and a number) and using multifactor authentication for extra security in case something goes wrong.

As individuals and organisations increase online activity for business, economic transactions and communication, the threat from online scammers will continue to rise. This makes vigilance, diligence and adherence to cybersecurity best practice essential.