People warned to look out for these three tell-tale signs of a ticket scam
The survey discovered that those who were duped lost an average of £186 each. Additionally, 28% experienced a 'close call', which left them feeling let down, exasperated and furious. Furthermore, 27% chose to keep their close call – or genuine online ticketing fraud – hidden from others.
In the fight against ticket fraud, a specialist from The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailer (STAR), whose membership includes Ticketmaster, has outlined key warning signs to help prevent you becoming a target. Jonathan Brown, chief executive of STAR, explained: "Fraudsters are getting smarter, but there are ways to stay safe. Stick to secure, verified sellers to make sure your ticket leads to the real experience and not to disappointment.
"Buying from a STAR member is one of the best ways to protect yourself and you'll have access to our Alternative Dispute Resolution service if anything goes wrong."
A Ticketmaster representative commented: "Our top piece of advice when purchasing tickets is to avoid buying from social media at all costs - you never know who is on the other side of the screen.
"As demand surges for concerts, sports events and festivals, fraudsters often take advantage of that urgency, luring people in with deals that are simply too good to be true.
"Everyone deserves to enjoy their favourite events without worrying about being scammed. By staying vigilant, doing a quick bit of research and resisting the pressure to act fast, you can help protect yourself and others from falling victim to ticket fraud."
The study also revealed that 72% of those who narrowly avoided a dodgy deal did so because they sensed something was amiss with the transaction and backed out. Meanwhile, 43% were prompted to reconsider when their banking app flagged the need for additional verification, prompting them to think twice.
According to the statistics gathered by OnePoll.com, music concerts are the prime targets for scammers, followed by sporting events and festivals. Alarmingly, 24% have observed suspicious activities when attempting to purchase tickets for family or children's events.
A concerning finding is that only 60% of respondents feel confident in their ability to identify a ticket scam online. Furthermore, nearly half (44%) of those who have previously acquired tickets from unofficial sources admitted they were aware of the risks involved.
A representative from Ticketmaster cautioned: "Some scammers even try to sell you tickets before the event is on sale, remember that this will always be a fake unless it's an official presale."
They also warned against another common deceit: "Another tactic is sending fans a link to a replica of an official ticketing website – so go directly to the page rather than following links."
Superintendent Amanda Wolf, head of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau at the City of London Police, issued a warning: "This summer we're seeing all the biggest ticketed concerts and events happen, like the Oasis reunion tour, but those scrambling to buy last minute tickets have become prime targets for fraudsters."
She urged caution, advising: "Remember to take a moment and Stop! Think Fraud before buying tickets through social media. "Look out for unsolicited or unexpected messages selling sold-out tickets as it could be a fraudster. She concluded by saying: "Stay safe and follow Action Fraud's advice to protect yourself from fraud."
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