Barclays issues warning to festival-goers to help protect them against ticketing scams

Festival season is coming: how to avoid ticket scams. Source: unsplash.com

Scammers are taking advantage of music fans searching for tickets to sold-out events by setting up fake ticketing websites and social media personas, according to new research from Barclays.

According to the research, victims are at risk of losing ￡179 on average from the sophisticated crime, which is more than the average European festival ticket.

Millennial festival goers – fearful of missing out on must-see events – appear most at risk from fraudsters, with a quarter (26%) admitting they had fallen for ticket scams, the survey from Barclays found. Those victims are also more likely to being targeted by criminals multiple times, with more than a third (37%) falling for at least three different ticketing scams in the last two years.

Although 40% said buying a ticket from a tout on a social media group carries one of the greatest risks of being scammed, it does not necessarily put them off. Surprisingly, 40% of 25-34-year-olds admitted they would be prepared to use social media groups to purchase a ticket, despite knowing the dangers.

That’s why, ahead of the festival season, Barclays is raising awareness of ticket scams and providing quick and simple ways for people to better protect themselves from the scammers ready to pounce on fans who fear missing out on their dream event.

Here are top tips to protect against ticket scams:

• Do your research and make sure you are purchasing your ticket from a legitimate source.
• Fraudsters target the most vulnerable, and if their targets appear willing to go to extreme lengths, including paying more than the original price, they will take advantage of this.
• Is it too good to be true??If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. Fraudsters will often lure people in with heavily discounted prices for sought after events. If you do find yourself victim, report this to your bank straight away.
• Do not let security measures slip as you try to get that elusive ticket. Only half (47%) of festival-goers said they avoid the site or social media group where they previously fell victim to a scam. Remember, always look out for the padlock symbol in the web address to ensure the website is legitimate. If this symbol is not there, do not continue to payment or enter any of your personal details.
• Is it a pay-by-transfer??Scammers love bank transfers; the money goes straight into their account and then the seller can disappear. By the time you realize that something is wrong, it may be too late. Always try and pay via credit card as this provides added protection over other payment methods.

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