New scam warning for thousands of fans scrambling for tickets for first-ever Irish regular season NFL Croke Park clash
At one stage,
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Steelers fans will be looking forward to getting the chance to see TJ Watt in action
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Justin Jefferson will be one of the big stars on show in Croke Park
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Croke Park will host the historic showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings in September
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We Fight Fraud CEO Dr Nicola Harding urged supporters to stick to official platforms that offer consumer protection
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It led to a significant number of complaints about the ticket sale process and potential
Now, financial
Today, in The Irish Sun, we talk to two experts who are warning
THE scramble for tickets for the
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Unlike the
As demand far outstrips supply, fans are turning to riskier alternatives and the data suggest that criminals are exploiting the vacuum.
They analysed data from its Irish customers in the fortnight following the on-sale date, June 17 to 30, compared with the previous two weeks, June 3 to 16.
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They found an 80 per cent increase in the number of ticket scam victims during the period in question and a 48 per cent rise in
Unsurprisingly,
Walmart's New Anti-Tampering Labels: How Shoppers Can Stay Safe from Skimming Devices
We Fight Fraud, which specialises in uncovering fraud vulnerabilities, said they have seen this before. In March 2025, they investigated ticket resale around a Teddy Swims concert in
Despite resale restrictions, it found tickets being listed illegally on grey-market websites and widespread fraud on
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EARLY WARNING
With nearly two months to go until kick-off and ticket demand still soaring, Revolut and We Fight Fraud are issuing an early warning to fans in Ireland to not buy tickets on social media.
Dr Nicola Harding, CEO of We Fight Fraud, urges supporters to stick to official, regulated platforms that offer
She said: 'When regulated resale options are removed, fans don't stop searching for tickets, they simply turn to social media where fraudsters posing as fans lie in wait.
'Our research found that three in four tickets bought through these channels were scams. Without safe alternatives, consumers are being pushed into the hands of criminals.'
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Dave Eborne, Head of Fraud Operations at Revolut, added: 'Something as special as Ireland's first-ever regular season game was bound to attract local NFL fans — but also plenty from overseas, such as in the UK and the US.
'SOPHISTICATED CRIMINALS'
'It's these hotly anticipated events that frustratingly become a prime target for sophisticated criminals, wishing to prey on enthusiastic fans.
"Particularly with much sought-after tickets, fraudsters seek out less controlled environments, such as social media platforms — where there are fewer verifications, to develop a convincing ploy that sadly a lot of consumers fall for amid the mad rush and clamber for tickets."
Research shows fraud rates in markets with price caps like Victoria,
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COMMON SCAM TACTICS USED ONLINE
Some of the most common tactics identified used by scammers include:
Impossible to meet in person: Scammers rarely ever live in the city where the match is taking place, and prefer to make deals online instead of meeting buyers.
Less controlled environments: To successfully scam their victims, criminals mainly use unofficial sites or social media marketplaces where there are fewer verifications.
Too good to be true: In some cases, scammers sell fake match tickets at very good prices, attempting to lure victims into transferring money quickly.
FOMO - Fear of Missing Out: Fraudsters pressure victims into paying quickly or risk tickets being sold to someone else, feigning multiple offers to distract from the tell-tale signs.
Photos can fool you: Criminals often convince victims with screenshots of digital tickets, but these are often fake and fraudsters have nothing to transfer. Stick to legitimate platforms.
Eborne said: 'As Dr Harding's research shows, capping resale prices doesn't necessarily prevent ticket scams from taking place altogether.
'This approach provides another platform for them to thrive, costing fans and local economies through increases in reported fraud. More intelligent, transparent regulation of the resale market, with consumer education on the warning signs of scams, are the only real solutions amid the scramble.'
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