Lloyds Bank has issued a warning over football ticket scams ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 11 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The bank, which has branches in Birmingham, reported a 36% increase in ticket scams over the past six months compared to the same period last year.
Rising Losses and Scam Tactics
Victims lose an average of £215, but some lose much more, with total losses rising by 42% year-on-year. Nearly a third (32%) of all ticket scams are football-related, and fraudsters are expected to exploit demand for the biggest games of the tournament.
Liz Ziegler, Fraud Prevention Director at Lloyds, explained: "Fraudsters thrive on urgency and target fans looking for hard-to-get tickets for big-name fixtures. Most football ticket scams start on social media, especially Facebook and Instagram, before the criminal moves the buyer onto WhatsApp and insists on a bank transfer. It's incredibly convincing, and we don't want fans to lose their money trying to support their team."
Government and Bank Urge Caution
Lloyds and the Labour government are urging fans to "Stop! Think Fraud" ahead of the World Cup. Lord Hanson added: "As excitement builds, fraudsters are preparing to exploit loyal fans. I urge all supporters to Stop! Think Fraud and show fraudsters the red card. Only buy directly from FIFA or the FIFA Resale Marketplace. Missing out on a big match is disappointing, but becoming a victim to a scam makes it even harder to bear. Our new fraud strategy sets out how we will use every tool to disrupt criminal operations, bring fraudsters to justice, and strengthen support for victims."
