£2.5million misplaced to soccer ticket fraudsters in final two seasons

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Your help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Soccer followers are being urged to be careful for scams when shopping for match tickets for the upcoming Premier League season, as a financial institution estimates that £2.5 million has been misplaced lately.

Greater than 2,400 circumstances of soccer ticket fraud had been reported by Lloyds clients over the previous two seasons, with complete losses topping £500,000.

The financial institution estimates that nationally there are more likely to have been no less than 12,000 victims because the begin of the 2023/24 season, with greater than £2.5 million stolen by fraudsters.

Victims misplaced a mean of £218 every final season, in accordance with the financial institution.

Supporters of Liverpool are most certainly to have been affected, adopted by followers of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis, Lloyds’ figures indicated.

Circumstances additionally concerned followers of Celtic and Rangers, whereas Wrexham AFC additionally featured within the information.

Supporters aged 25 to 34 had been the commonest victims, making up 28 per cent of circumstances, intently adopted by 18 to 24-year-olds (26 per cent).

The federal government has joined Lloyds to problem a warning to supporters as a part of its Cease! Suppose Fraud marketing campaign.

Round three-quarters (76 per cent) of soccer ticket fraud circumstances final season began on social media, in accordance with Lloyds’ information.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/04/30/11/59/GettyImages-2212265134.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/04/30/11/59/GettyImages-2212265134.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/04/30/11/59/GettyImages-2212265134.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Victims lost an average of £218 each last season" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE"/> Victims misplaced a mean of £218 every final season (Getty Photographs) Scammers publish faux adverts or listings on social media, providing tickets at discounted costs or for sold-out video games.

Victims are requested to pay upfront – typically by financial institution switch – however the tickets don't arrive and the fraudster disappears.

Get a free fractional share price as much as £100.Capital in danger.

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Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, mentioned: “It’s straightforward to get swept up within the buzz of a brand new season, however scammers are banking on that pleasure.

“With demand for tickets typically outstripping provide, fraudsters know they'll trick followers into paying for tickets that merely don’t exist.”

Lord Hanson, minister for fraud on the Residence Workplace, mentioned: “Fraud is a ruthless crime that preys on our passions, our belief and our pleasure.

“Because the nation gears up for the brand new soccer season, so too do fraudsters, ready to benefit from loyal followers looking for tickets.

“Greater than three-quarters of soccer ticket scams final season began on social media, with what seem to be real ‘first come, first served’ affords all too typically designed to tear off determined followers.

“That’s why we urge all soccer supporters looking for tickets to Cease! Suppose Fraud. Keep alert and solely purchase immediately from the golf equipment, their official companions and legit resale retailers.

“None of us needs to overlook a giant sport, however that can really feel 10 instances worse if you happen to’ve additionally handed tons of of kilos to a fraudster for a ticket you’ll by no means see.”

Sajni Shah, a cash knowledgeable at Evaluate the Market, mentioned: “Keep alert to purple flags like overly low-cost tickets being offered over social media or sellers pushing you to make quick funds by way of on-line platforms. If one thing feels too good to be true, it most likely is.”

Listed here are some suggestions from Lloyds for soccer supporters to guard themselves from ticket scams:

Don't let “fomo” (worry of lacking out) make you rush into a choice you'll later remorse. Take a second to cease, assume, and verify if the provide is real.Stick with official sources. Purchase tickets immediately from official Premier League membership web sites, ticket places of work or their authorised companions. The Premier League web site has a safe-buying information to assist followers when shopping for tickets.Don't transfer away from an official cost platform to make a direct cost by way of financial institution switch or digital forex. Use the web site’s really useful cost strategies. [ad_2] Source link