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The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
Estimated £2.5m lost to football ticket scams as fans urged to be cautious
Football fans are being urged to watch out for ticket scams when buying match tickets for the upcoming Premier League season, as a bank estimates that £2.5 million has been lost in recent years. Victims lost an average of £218 each last season, according to Lloyds. More than 2,400 cases of football ticket fraud were reported by Lloyds customers over the past two seasons, with total losses topping £500,000. The bank estimates that nationally there are likely to have been at least 12,000 victims since the start of the 2023/24 season, with more than £2.5 million stolen by fraudsters. Supporters of Liverpool are most likely to have been affected, followed by fans of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City, Lloyds' figures indicated. Cases also involved fans of Celtic and Rangers, while Wrexham AFC also featured in the data. Supporters aged 25 to 34 were the most common victims, making up 28% of cases, closely followed by 18 to 24-year-olds (26%). The Government has joined Lloyds to issue a warning to supporters as part of its Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Around three-quarters (76%) of football ticket fraud cases last season started on social media, according to Lloyds' data. Scammers post fake adverts or listings on social media, offering tickets at discounted prices or for sold-out games. Victims are asked to pay upfront – often by bank transfer – but the tickets do not arrive and the fraudster disappears. Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: 'It's easy to get swept up in the buzz of a new season, but scammers are banking on that excitement. 'With demand for tickets often outstripping supply, fraudsters know they can trick fans into paying for tickets that simply don't exist.' Lord Hanson, minister for fraud at the Home Office, said: 'Fraud is a ruthless crime that preys on our passions, our trust and our excitement. 'As the nation gears up for the new football season, so too do fraudsters, waiting to take advantage of loyal fans searching for tickets. 'More than three-quarters of football ticket scams last season started on social media, with what seem like genuine 'first come, first served' offers all too often designed to rip off desperate fans. 'That's why we urge all football supporters hunting for tickets to Stop! Think Fraud. Stay alert and only buy directly from the clubs, their official partners and legitimate resale outlets. 'None of us wants to miss a big game, but that will feel 10 times worse if you've also handed hundreds of pounds to a fraudster for a ticket you'll never see.' Sajni Shah, a money expert at Compare the Market, said: 'Stay alert to red flags like overly cheap tickets being sold over social media or sellers pushing you to make fast payments via online platforms. If something feels too good to be true, it probably is.' Here are some tips from Lloyds for football supporters to protect themselves from ticket scams: 1. Do not let 'fomo' (fear of missing out) make you rush into a decision you will later regret. Take a moment to stop, think, and check if the offer is genuine. 2. Stick to official sources. Buy tickets directly from official Premier League club websites, ticket offices or their authorised partners. The Premier League website has a safe-buying guide to help fans when buying tickets. 3. Do not move away from an official payment platform to make a direct payment via bank transfer or virtual currency. Use the website's recommended payment methods.
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Brighton's STAGGERING 'nine-figure asking price' for Man United target Carlos Baleba which would take Ruben Amorim's summer spending over £300m
Brighton have reportedly set a staggering asking price for Manchester United target Carlos Baleba. The Red Devils are said to have made contact with the Seagulls to explore the conditions of a deal for midfielder this summer, though an agreement appears difficult. The 21-year-old enjoyed an impressive campaign in 2024-25 for Brighton, featuring 34 times in the Premier League and scoring three goals for Fabian Hurzeler's side. United are closing in on their third major addition of the summer with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, having tabled a £74million bid this week, with personal terms already agreed between player and club. This move would shoot Ruben Amorim 's summer spending past the £200m mark, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon already joining for a combined £134.5m. Now, Ruben Amorim's summer spending could exceed the £300m mark if they move for Baleba. The Cameroon international is valued at a whopping €120m (£104m) by Brighton, according to ESPN. The Athletic reports that a move for the youngster is 'improbable' unless United are able to secure a series of lucrative sales before the window closes at the start of next month. Baleba has three years remaining on his contract with an option to extend for a further 12 months at the Amex, and is believed to be happy to stay on the south coast of England. Despite Amorim moving quickly to solve his side's attacking woes from last season, there is still a desire to improve their midfield ranks. United currently have Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer in their ranks, while Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo can also be deployed in the central midfielder positions in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 formation. Baleba rose through local sides Futur Soccer FC and the Ecole de Football des Brasseries du Cameroun academy centre before catching the eye of European scouts. He joined Lille in January 2022, initially featuring for the reserve side before making his professional debut in Ligue 1 in August that year. In August 2023, Brighton & Hove Albion signed him on a five-year deal for around £25m. He has since made 61 Premier League appearances and was voted Brighton's Player of the Season in 2024-25.
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Two goalkeepers leave Newcastle as Odysseas Vlachodimos heads to Spain after Martin Dubravka joins Burnley
Newcastle United goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is on his way to Spain to undergo a medical with Sevilla. The Greece international, who has yet to start a first-team game for the Magpies, arrived last summer from Nottingham Forest in part of the deal that took Elliot Anderson the other way. Newcastle have agreed a season-long loan with Sevilla for the 31-year-old. Vlochodimos will still have another two years left on his Newcastle contract if he returns to Tyneside next summer. Meanwhile, another Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka, 36, has finalised his transfer to Burnley. Signing a one year deal, Dubravka said: 'I'm delighted to be here. 'It's a really exciting time to be joining this Club, ahead of our return to the Premier League. 'I've only heard really positive things about the club, the culture and the environment we work in, so I'm excited about getting going with the season kicking off next weekend.' He added: 'Burnley had a fantastic campaign last season, built on a superb defensive record, and I can't wait to come in and add my experience and quality to what looks an exciting squad of players. 'I'm really looking forward to playing for the club in front of our passionate fans.'
