EXCLUSIVE Gen Z are meant to be tech-savvy... but 1.5 million admit they were duped online by social media ticket scams to see their favourite bands

Daily Mail​

7 hours ago

Millions of supposedly tech-savvy Gen Zs admit they have been easily scammed on social media trying to get sold out tickets to see their favourite music artists.
A survey found a shocking 1.5 million of the youngsters (21 per cent) admitted to being fooled online by fraudsters last summer when buying tickets for live music events.
And 2.2 million of the digital natives (32 per cent) admitted to being scammed on either Facebook Marketplace or Instagram.
Despite over half (52 per cent) of Gen Zs having seen an increase in suspicious ticket listings in social media since last year, they are still falling for the scams.
As the most prolific social media users, they are set to lose a total of £685.9million to fraudsters tricking them online.
The research by StubHub UK found that the younger generation were so desperate to get their hands on the tickets that they failed to do basic due diligence.
A quarter (25 per cent) of those that were scammed admitted they didn't check the seller's identity before transferring them the money.
What's more, over two in ten (21 per cent) of Gen Z also revealed they would rather risk it in a desperate bid to see their favourite act, than miss out on a must-see concert.
How to avoid ticket scams
1. Buy from a trusted marketplace Always use well-established marketplaces which offer secure transactions and good customer ratings on independent review platforms like Trustpilot.
2. Check for buyer protections Ensure the platform offers guarantees against fraud, non-delivery, or cancellation
3. Make sure you can get help if you need it Look for customer support that has a human at the end of the phone, so you are supported if you have any questions or concerns.
4. Pay securely Always use a credit or debit card for additional fraud protection. Avoid bank transfers or cash payments, which offer little recourse in case of scams.
5. Verify ticket information Check that the event details, seat locations, and ticket types match what is advertised on official event pages. Avoid listings with vague information
6. Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true! If a deal looks too cheap compared to market prices, it may not be legitimate
'Remember, don't risk it! Avoid purchasing tickets from social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp where your transactions are not protected and you are more vulnerable to scams,' say the experts at StubHub UK
Meanwhile 30 per cent of Brits between the ages of 25-34 admitted to being scammed when buying tickets for live events last summer on social media - the equivalent of 1.4 million Millennials.
It comes as UK music fans could be hit by nine million scam attempts on social media in their search for gig tickets this summer, as it's revealed almost a third (32 per cent) would resort to using social media to find last minute tickets for their favourite artists.
While London sees high volumes, scammers are increasingly targeting fans in Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester, which are now the scamming hotspots outside the capital.
This will likely spike ahead of major tours set to begin this summer by major artists like Oasis, Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey and Olivia Rodrigo.
The research follows hundreds of Oasis fans who have fallen victim to scams amid the rush to buy tour tickets and lost £346 on average, according to a high street bank's analysis of its own data.
Lloyds Bank said hundreds of fans desperate to see the Gallagher brothers' reunion tour had fallen victim to fraudsters, with more than 90 per cent of reported cases starting with fake adverts or posts on social media.
Victims have been asked to pay upfront for the tickets and once payment has been made, the scammers vanished, leaving many out of pocket.
Scams involved fake adverts, posts or listings on social media, offering tickets at discounted prices or access to events that have already sold out at inflated prices, the bank said.
Purchase scams can happen when someone is tricked into sending money via bank transfer to buy goods or services that are fake, shoddy or do not exist.
Ticket scams often involve fake adverts, posts or listings on social media, offering tickets or access to sold-out events.
Victims are asked to pay up front for the tickets, but once this is done, the scammers disappear.
The buyer is left without the tickets and out of pocket.