As millions of fans prepare to attend summer concerts and festivals like Glastonbury, the UK government is sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in ticket fraud. According to newly released data from the Home Office, more than £1.6 million has been lost in ticket-related scams so far in 2024—double the losses recorded in 2023.
The figures come from Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. They detail over 3,700 reports of gig ticket scams this year alone. Nearly half of these frauds originated on social media platforms, where scammers pose as legitimate sellers or companies.
“Scammers are getting ready to exploit the desperate search for tickets,” said Fraud Minister Lord Hanson. “They post fake messages offering tickets they can’t use or promote bogus companies promising last-minute access.”
Who’s Being Targeted?
The latest data shows that people in their 20s represent 27% of all victims. Fraud continues to be the most common crime in the UK, affecting 1 in 15 adults each year. With rising demand for big-name performances, fraudsters are seizing the opportunity to target younger audiences seeking last-minute tickets online.
The Home Office’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign is at the centre of the government’s push to raise awareness.
Common Tactics and How the Scams Work
The fraud typically follows a pattern:
- A scammer posts a message on social media claiming to have spare tickets.
- They may use names of trusted sellers or claim affiliation with well-known ticketing platforms.
- Once a buyer shows interest, they are encouraged to leave the platform and make a bank transfer or use cryptocurrency.
- After the payment, the seller disappears or sends fake tickets that do not work.
“Key signs of ticket fraud include unsolicited messages with ticket offers, payment requests via bank transfer, and deals that seem too good to be true,” said Tor Garnett, City of London Police Commander for Cyber and Economic Crime.
“Use a reputable ticket-selling site, double check all offers, and always pay with a credit card for added protection.”
Advice to Stay Safe While Buying Tickets
Authorities advise festivalgoers and event attendees to follow these basic rules:
- Only buy tickets from official ticketing websites or box offices.
- Be cautious of last-minute offers or sellers urging you to pay outside official platforms.
- Never make payments via bank transfers or virtual currencies.
- Use credit cards, which offer better protection against fraud.
- Watch for messages that sound urgent or push for fast decisions.
“No matter how real a deal looks, we all need to take a moment to think: am I being ripped off?” said Lord Hanson. “Don’t let scammers ruin your summer.”
Wider Measures to Curb Fraud in the UK
As part of its broader anti-fraud agenda, the government is introducing new policies aimed at making large-scale scams more difficult. One such measure is a proposed ban on SIM farms—technical devices that enable mass messaging and fraud operations at industrial scale.
Meanwhile, similar alerts are being issued in other countries. For instance, the Singapore Police Force recently warned fans to be cautious when buying tickets to upcoming Blackpink concerts, indicating a global rise in such schemes.
