Liverpool FC supporters are the most frequent and highest-paying victims of ticket scams in the English Premier League football season 2023/24.
That’s according to NatWest Bank’s annual ‘League of Ticket Scams’ report, which details how many fans at each club lost last year to ticket scamming schemes.
Last season, Liverpool fans lost over £17,500 ($22,000) to criminals with 76 cases of ticket scams, closely followed by Arsenal fans who lost £12,000 ($16,000) with 70 scams.
On average ticket fraud is costing those scammed fans £180.66 a season. The highest reported ticket scam case was reported by an Arsenal fan as the club tried to win its first title in 20 years. The fan lost £900.
As the end of the season approached, April was the month the most amount of money was lost by fans with £9,925.50 stolen by criminals. This data is based on the volumes and value of actual cases reported to the bank.
Stuart Skinner, head of fraud prevention at NatWest said: “As the new season kicks off we urge customers to be extra vigilant and stay safe from criminals who are exploiting fans' devotion to their club. We estimate the actual value of ticket scams is potentially much higher but not all of the scams are reported.”
“Social media platforms need to give a red card to the fraudsters using them to exploit people’s passion for football,” Skinner added.
Scammers score
Ticket scams often originate on social media sites including Facebook Marketplace. Fans will be asked to transfer the money in advance and then the ticket either doesn’t materialise or fans are sent fake tickets which in some instances are only then discovered at the turnstiles.
On average ticket fraud is costing those scammed fans £180.66 a season based on the volumes and value of actual cases reported to the bank.
"The essence of this situation lies not just in the prevalence of these frauds but in the sophistication and specificity with which these scams are crafted. Cybercriminals are crafting increasingly convincing schemes to dupe unsuspecting fans," said Javvad Malik, Lead Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4.
“This serves as a reminder that in cybersecurity, it's not just technology that needs fortifying, but also the human element needs to be taken into consideration”
A more concerted effort is needed to educate the masses about the potential risks. Understanding the tactics employed by criminals is half the battle. The other half is about taking proactive steps to safeguard oneself and how to report suspected fraud. And in doing so, creating a stronger cybersecurity culture."
Preventing ticket scams
As part of the report, NatWest provided several ways football fans could avoid falling victim to ticket scams. This included always purchasing tickets directly from the official team website, authorized ticket vendors, or well-known and reputable resale platforms, and verifying the seller If buying from a secondary market or an individual seller.
They also warned fans to be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals Scammers often lure buyers with prices that are significantly lower than the market rate and check ticket details Before making a purchase, carefully examine the ticket details.
This includes ensuring the date, time, venue, and seating information are accurate, and cautious of vague or incomplete information which could indicate a fraudulent ticket. If you encounter a suspected scam, report it to your bank and the police immediately.
