Action Fraud Urges Vigilance as Ticket Fraud Losses Surge to £9.7 Million

Are you looking forward to the summer festival and concert season? We are too, but unfortunately, so are the scammers eager to exploit fans and travelers.

New figures from Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, reveal that ticket fraud losses soared by nearly 50% from 2023 to 2024, with a staggering £9.7 million in reported financial losses.

The data also show that June and July saw the highest levels of ticket fraud reporting in 2024, with more than 1,000 reports in June alone.

Among the 9,826 reports made to Action Fraud in 2024:

• 38% (3,771) involved concert tickets
• 23% (2,351) involved travel
• 16% (1,617) involved sporting events

With summer just around the corner, Action Fraud is urging the public to remain vigilant when purchasing event tickets—especially as peak season approaches.

“With £9.7 million lost to ticket fraud last year, Action Fraud is urging people who are heading to the top events and those looking for last minute ticket deals this summer to stay vigilant and recognise the signs of ticket fraud,” said Claire Webb, acting director of Action Fraud.  “Beware of fraudsters trying to take advantage by selling fake tickets to popular or sold-out events online or on social media, especially if you receive unsolicited or unexpected messages offering tickets.”

Related articles:

Foolproof Fest: Dodging Ticket Scams and Phantom Events

Ticketmaster Scams: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Safe

How to Protect Against Ticket Fraud

1. Buy Smart. Purchase tickets only from official sources, such as the venue’s box office, the official promoter or agent, or a reputable ticketing website. Look for the STAR logo (Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers or any other official ticket agencies in your region) to ensure you’re buying from an authorized seller.
2. Use Secure Payment Methods. Avoid bank transfers unless you’re absolutely certain of the seller’s legitimacy. Credit cards offer greater protection if something goes wrong.
3. Secure Your Online Accounts. Use strong, unique passwords (three random words) for your email and other ticket-buying accounts. Enable two-step verification (2SV) for an additional layer of security.
4. Beware of ‘Too Good to Be True’ Offers. Unsolicited emails, texts, or social media ads with unbelievable prices are often red flags.
5. Report Suspicious Activity

• Forward suspicious emails to [email protected].
• For more tips on staying secure, visit cyberaware.gov.uk.

Fight Ticket Scams With Bitdefender. Use Free scam detection tools like Bitdefender Scamio and Link Checker for free:

• Scamio: Our AI-powered scam detection chatbot is available 24/7 to check for scam messages, links or even QR codes for potential fraud indicators.
• Link Checker: Our on-demand service that instantly checks for malicious and fraudulent URLs. Both tools can help you spot scams before you commit to a purchase.