Fake concert, festival, sports ticket scams

Fraudsters are advertising fake tickets to concerts for artists such as Taylor Swift. They will promote them through social media platforms such as Facebook, or through fake websites of their own design.

Tickets to these concerts are often scarce and in high demand, meaning victims may feel pressured to act quickly to purchase them. Fraudsters will create fake adverts which ask for payments to be made via bank transfer or PayPal, and then cease communication once they receive the funds.

Please take extra care when purchasing any goods through non-verified means, particularly when transferring funds to someone you have never met. The convenience of what might at first seem like a simple and cost-effective transaction is outweighed by the potential pitfalls.

Warning signs to look out for when purchasing goods online include:

  • the seller’s account being new
  • the receiving bank account having a different name to the seller’s account
  • the seller refusing to accept cash on delivery as a payment method.

The safest option when buying tickets is directly from the venue, either online or in person. When this is not an option, use other trusted means such as the venue’s box office, or well-known ticket resellers such as StubHub or Ticketmaster. Navigate to their site yourself rather than using an advert.

If you think you have been scammed with fake tickets, please speak to your private banking team or Relationship Manager in the first instance.  You can also contact the Private Bank Help Desk on +44 (0) 1933 543 600 or the Racing Bank Help Desk on +44 (0) 1933 543 543.