If you don’t get lucky in the general sale, you might be tempted to try and buy a ticket from a reseller – either an ‘agent’ or another fan posting that they now can’t attend the event. But you’ll need to be extra careful, as sold-out events attract fraudsters selling dodgy or non-existent tickets.
Read on to learn about how to stay safe when buying event tickets.
Outsmart the scammersWhat is ticket fraud?
Ticket fraud occurs when you buy tickets for an event – usually online – and they either don’t arrive or you’re sent fake tickets. When you try to get a refund, the seller or website you bought the tickets from either refuses or is nowhere to be found.
This form of fraud is on the rise. Data from Action Fraud shows that £6.7m was lost to ticket fraud in 2022, while Lloyds Bank reported a huge increase in concert ticket scams between 2022 and 2023.
Fans buying tickets from ‘resellers’, such as third-party companies or individuals who say they’ve bought tickets but now can’t make the event, are particularly vulnerable to scams.
Criminals can spoof genuine websites and use fake images to convince you what they’re offering is legitimate. Scams can be difficult to spot, and you might be especially vulnerable to falling victim at a time when you’re desperate to get tickets to see your favourite artist.
Five tips for buying tickets safely
Stick to official retailers:Only enter official competitions: Be alert to scammers on social media:Avoid offers that seem too good to be true: Don’t pay by bank transfer:source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-to-avoid-scams-when-buying-taylor-swift-tickets-an7cF0o6HFeL