WHEN GIG, festival, game or tournament tickets have sold out – or fans aren’t prepared to suffer queueing or dynamic pricing – many turn to social media or fan forums to get the tickets they are looking for. In fact, 42% of UK consumers have used social media to buy tickets, but one in eight who have done so have reported falling victim to scams.
That’s why North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales Police, and Get Safe Online have teamed up to provide residents and local communities with expert tips and advice on buying tickets safely. Get Safe Online is a service commissioned by the Office of the PCC and the local Police Force to share helpful information and advice with the people of North Wales.
Nick Hawe, Get Safe Online’s ticket expert, commented: “When fans can’t get tickets through mainstream platforms, they don’t stop looking. They turn to social media and informal marketplaces where protections are minimal and scams are rife.
“In an online ticket scam, the seller tells you they’ll send you the tickets as soon as you’ve transferred the money to their bank account.
“But when you haven’t received them and you try to chase the seller, the phone just rings and your messages aren’t returned. This happens to thousands of music and sports fans in the UK every year.”
There is plenty more advice on the Get Safe Online website, but top tips include:
- Don’t buy tickets from anyone apart from official vendors, the box office or regulated ticket marketplaces, however desperate you are.
- Double check all details of your purchase before confirming payment.
- Consider that tickets advertised on any other source such as social media, fan forums and auction sites have a high chance of being fake or non-existent, however authentic the ad and seller may seem and whether they’re advertised at, below or above face value.
- Don’t be tempted to click on social media, text or email links or attachments offering tickets, as they could link to fraudulent or malware ridden sites.
- Paying for tickets by bank transfer could result in you losing your money. It’s always best to pay by credit card, for additional protection.
- Check sellers’ privacy and returns policies. Ensure the site offers a guarantee or consumer protection for peace of mind.
- Check that the page is genuine by carefully entering the address yourself, not from a link and is secure with ‘https’ and a locked padlock in the url – log out when you’ve completed the transaction.
- You could check if a website is likely to be legitimate by using some of the handy tools on Get Safe Online’s Safe Ticket Buyer Tools page.
PCC Andy Dunbobbin said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner, I know how important live events are to people across North Wales, but criminals are increasingly exploiting that demand to scam fans out of their hard-earned money.
“That’s why we’re working with Get Safe Online to make sure people have the knowledge and confidence to buy tickets safely.
“A few simple checks can make all the difference in protecting yourself and your finances, so read the tips and bear them in mind next time you are tempted to buy tickets through social media.”
DC Rachel Roberts, Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer, North Wales Police, added: “With summer approaching, the opportunity to attend a live event is an exciting prospect for many of us.
“But ticket scams can leave victims out of pocket and unable to attend events they were excited about, causing both financial loss and emotional distress.
“Don’t forget – these types of scams also extend to tickets for travel, so when purchasing tickets, it is important that you use a trusted and reputable company.”
For more up-to-date online safety advice visit Get Safe Online’s website.
