Latest news with #NicolaHarding
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits face £100million in ticket scams this summer if resale price caps hit
Experts have warned that the UK Government's proposal to cap resale prices could end up playing straight into the hands of scammers as fans turn to risky ways to get tickets Experts have warned that Brits could be conned out of £100million in ticket scams this summer alone, if price caps are introduced on ticket resales. Data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, Action Fraud and the National Crime Agency revealed that ticket fraud across England and Wales cost a staggering £70 million in 2024. This year, the figure could skyrocket to £280 million, as anticipation builds around Glastonbury, Wimbledon, and the eagerly awaited Oasis tour. More than a third of scams, amounting to £100 million, are expected to occur in the next few months if price caps plans are imposed. The data comes from Bradshaw Advisory and independent research by anti-fraud organisation We Fight Fraud. They suggest that scams could quadruple if price caps are introduced. They warn that the UK Government's proposal to cap resale prices could inadvertently aid scammers, making it easier for fraud to thrive as desperate fans resort to riskier methods to secure tickets. Dave Eborne, head of fraud operations at Revolut, commented: "We know that highly anticipated events, like concerts and sports matches, can become a target for unscrupulous criminals preying on enthusiastic fans. "Especially with sought-after tickets, fraudsters leverage both the fear of missing out on a unique opportunity and a sense of urgency due to scarcity and high demand." He added: "The idea that a potential ticket could disappear quickly encourages people to act fast without thinking – but it's vital that consumers look for tell-tale warning signs before handing over their hard-earned cash. "As We Fight Fraud's research shows, banning or capping resale doesn't stop these scams; it simply provides another platform for them to thrive, costing fans and the wider economy through increased fraud." Research indicates that Ireland and Victoria, Australia - two regions that have introduced price caps - have seen a significant surge in reports of ticket fraud. The Bradshaw Advisory highlighted that in Ireland, where price caps are in place, 13.6% of fans reported being scammed - a figure more than triple the UK's rate of 3.8%. There could also be broader implications. Since October 2024, UK banks have been obligated to reimburse victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, which includes most ticket scams. Dr Nicola Harding, from We Fight Fraud, said: "Price caps don't stop fraud - they multiply it and we could see live event fans defrauded to the tune of £100 million this summer. "Smart, transparent regulation of the resale market, and robust consumer education on the warning signs of ticket scams, are the only real solutions to protect fans." TOP TIPS TO AVOID AND SPOT A TICKET SCAM Purchase tickets only through a legitimate and regulated platform. If you are unsure of a website's legitimacy, you can check it by using Get Safe Online's Check a Website tool. Cover yourself: Ensure platforms offer fan protection with a guarantee should anything go wrong. Resist the hard sell and social media: Getting in-demand tickets can feel like a race against time but don't let individual sellers pressure you into a quick purchase. Avoid buying tickets on social media where many sellers are unverified, increasing the risk of scams or counterfeit tickets. Verify the venue and date: If the event is taking place at a venue unknown to you, then confirm its existence through online maps and look for independent reviews. Once you have done so, search the original live event announcement or schedule on the artist or team's website to make sure dates and location align. Price check reality: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid suspiciously cheap tickets.
Business Wire
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Scam Summer: Experts Warn Price Caps May Fuel £100 Million in Ticket Fraud
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the UK heading into its biggest summer of live events in years, experts are warning that the Government's plans to cap the resale price of tickets could backfire - dramatically increasing fraud, pushing fans into the hands of scammers and triggering a financial backlash for both banks and consumers. Experts warn that price caps may fuel £100 million in ticket fraud. Share While the move to strengthen regulation is welcome, the proposal to restrict the price of resold tickets is raising serious concerns. In response to the Government's recent consultation on ticket resale regulation, which includes proposals to restrict the price of resold tickets, We Fight Fraud (WFF) - supported by one of the UK's leading fintechs, Revolut - is sounding the alarm: price caps won't protect fans - they'll expose them. Data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, Action Fraud and the National Crime Agency shows that the cost of reported ticket fraud for England and Wales was £70 million last year. Yet this pales into insignificance with how much consumers would lose in the event of a mooted price cap being introduced. New figures from Bradshaw Advisory, backed by independent research from We Fight Fraud, suggest that number would quadruple as ticket resales migrate from the regulated secondary market to social media. This would mean consumers being hit in the pocket to the tune of £280 million a year – with £100 million of that falling in the peak summer months alone. Dr Nicola Harding, CEO of We Fight Fraud, a specialist unit made up of ex-police, intelligence officers, cyber experts, and financial crime investigators, said: 'Capping resale prices may sound fan-friendly - but in practice, it pushes buyers into unregulated, risky spaces where criminals operate freely. We've tested this market. We've seen what happens. Price caps don't stop fraud - they multiply it and we could see live event fans defrauded to the tune of £100 million this summer.' As part of its investigation, We Fight Fraud conducted a covert ticket-buying operation at a Premier League match in March between Liverpool and Southampton. The results were stark: Three out of four tickets purchased via social media in test cases were either fake or never arrived. Two out of five tickets were outright scams. Two others were obtained illegally via hijacked memberships. Buyers were asked to pay bogus 'name change' fees and transfer money to money mule accounts. All scams were orchestrated via social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps. 'These aren't opportunistic chancers,' said Harding. 'They're organised criminal networks exploiting fans who've been shut out of safe, legitimate resale routes. 'The more you limit legitimate access, the more you push desperate fans into the shadows - and that's exactly where scammers lie in wait.' While We Fight Fraud's research* focused on the UK, international data tells a worrying story. In Ireland and Victoria, Australia - where ticket resale caps are in place - fraud has surged. Bradshaw Advisory's research found that in Ireland, 13.6% of fans reported being scammed, over three times the UK's 3.8% rate. Independent research shows fraud has risen in step with these restrictions. Since October 2024, UK banks have been required to reimburse victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, which includes most ticket scams. With resale restrictions forcing more buyers onto risky channels, the financial burden is now spreading from fans to banks - and eventually to the wider economy. Revolut saw ticket scams increase by 40% in the run-up to Taylor Swift concerts in London in August 2024. "We know that highly anticipated events, like concerts and sports matches, can become a target for unscrupulous criminals preying on enthusiastic fans,' said Dave Eborne, Head of Fraud Operations at Revolut. 'Especially with sought-after tickets, fraudsters leverage both the fear of missing out on a unique opportunity and a sense of urgency due to scarcity and high demand. The idea that a potential ticket could disappear quickly encourages people to act fast without thinking – but it's vital that consumers look for tell-tale warning signs before handing over their hard-earned cash. As Dr. Harding's research shows, banning or capping resale doesn't stop these scams; it simply provides another platform for them to thrive, costing fans and the wider economy through increased fraud. Smart, transparent regulation of the resale market, and robust consumer education on the warning signs of ticket scams, are the only real solutions to protect fans." For further information please contact contact@ or call us on +44(0)20 3633 0996 NOTES TO EDITORS About Revolut: Revolut is one of the UK's leading fintechs, helping people get more from their money. In 2015, Revolut launched in the UK offering money transfer and exchange. Today, more than 50 million customers around the world use dozens of Revolut's innovative products to make more than half a billion transactions a month. Across our personal and business accounts, we give customers more control over their finances and connect people seamlessly across the world. We Fight Fraud ( is a testing and research consultancy that specialises in identifying vulnerabilities related to financial crime. The independent research by WFF was commissioned by viagogo. Reinforcing We Fight Fraud's findings, Lloyds Bank recently issued a warning following a surge in scams linked to Oasis reunion tickets. Their analysis revealed that over two-thirds of all ticket scams now originate on social media, with Facebook responsible for 90% of those cases. Victims lost an average of £436, contributing to an estimated £2 million in total ticket scam losses over the past year. The scams typically involved convincing but fake listings, pressure to act quickly, and bogus charges like 'admin' or 'name change' fees - tactics that mirror those uncovered in We Fight Fraud's own investigations. REPORTING FRAUD: If you suspect fraud, report it to your bank and to Action Fraud at or if you prefer, on 0300 123 2040. If you're in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. About the data: Action fraud data from the NFIB dashboard shows the cost of ticket fraud for England and Wales is around £9.8m across the last 12 months. When you factor in that 86% of fraud goes unreported (Action Fraud and National Crime Agency), the more realistic figure is likely to be £70m across the last 12 months. If we regulate that with price caps, that figure will balloon to £280m (based on Bradshaw advisory research that shows level of fraud in markets with price caps is four times that of the UK). WFF's research at a Premier League football match investigation shows three in four tickets purchased were scams.
The Guardian
15-03-2025
- The Guardian
20 of the best spring breaks in the UK
Revamped last summer by interior designer Nicola Harding, the Cavendish hotel on Derbyshire's Chatsworth Estate is a mix of antique flounce (Harding was allowed to raid the 'big house', a 1.5-mile walk away) and contemporary sharpness (jolly stripes, pops of colour). A new exhibition, The Gorgeous Nothings: Flowers at Chatsworth (15 March-5 October), celebrates the estate's blooms in all their forms, from artworks to rare botanical volumes. Seasonal events include botanical embroidery workshops (5 and 6 April) and evening lambing sessions (4‑7 April). Even more enchanting is the family-size shepherd's hut, Mr McGregor's Garden, which comes with its own (rabbit-free) walled at the Cavendish from £204 B&B, Mr McGregor's Garden, sleeps 4, two nights from £280, Wagtail on Low Tipalt Farm is no ordinary shepherd's hut. For a start it's two, cleverly conjoined so there's space for a kitchen and an indulgent claw-foot bath – positioned beneath a glass roof for bath-time stargazing. High up in Northumberland national park, the farm enjoys England's most pristine dark skies and you may be lucky enough to catch the northern lights dancing overhead – a telescope is on hand to take a closer look. By day, spot calves and lambs in the fields, and wander down to Tipalt Burn for a riverside picnic – hamper and rug provided – or stride on to the Hadrian's Wall path and the Pennine 2, two nights from £325, SeaSpace is a cheery new aparthotel near Newquay from the folk behind the popular Watergate Bay hotel and Another Place, The Lake. Options range from studios to three-bed apartments, some with bunk rooms for kids, all in a perky colour palette. There are wheelchair-friendly studios on the ground floor, while the indoor pool has a hoist and adaptable equipment, and accessible surfing can be arranged at Watergate Bay. There's a calendar of family activities, plus outdoor padel courts and a play area. The walk from West Pentire to Polly Joke beach is easy going for little legs and, in May, gives soul-stirring views of the headland covered in red from £100 a night, Hogchester's wildflower meadows played a starring role in David Attenborough's Wild Isles series, featuring in its grasslands episode. By May, they will be rippling with buttercups, red clover and daisies, and rustling with bees and butterflies. This former dairy farm is just inland from Charmouth and there are meadows, bluebell woods, pygmy goats, nosy guinea fowl and chicks. Families love the two-bedroom cottage, and each morning owner Rob invites kids to feed the 4, three nights from £450, Thanks to its microclimate, spring stirs early on the Isle of Wight, making it the ideal time to wander the 68-mile coastal path and many more that crisscross the island. The Isle of Wight walking festival (10-18 May) has guided, free-to-join hikes, including a loop around the Red Squirrel Trail with a Nordic walking instructor, and a music-lover's wander to the site of the island's infamous 1970 festival. There are also plenty of paths to trudge solo, including a six-mile route from Shanklin to Ventnor across the downs celebrating Charles Dickens, who summered on the island. Kick off those boots at the Albion hotel overlooking Freshwater Bay, which reopened last summer. Or bed down in one of the yurts at the Garlic Farm, with hammocks out festival hikes can be booked at The Albion hotel has doubles from £139 B&B, Yurts at the Garlic Farm sleep 2-4 from £180 for two nights, Watching wildlife from the comfort of your bed is just one of the perks of staying at Wildscapes, a pair of larch-clad cabins at the heart of Wendling Beck, a nature recovery project in Norfolk, which resulted from several neighbouring farms joining together to rewild their land. The varied habitats – including wet woodland, heathland, meadows and fens – are now home to 2,500 species, including more than 70 types of birds. Expect to see raptors, kestrels, goldfinches and kingfishers, or go out with the project's head ecologist to learn more about edible plants while looking for otters and wild orchids (two hours; £40pp). Back at the cabin, soak up the surroundings from the copper tub on your private sleep 2, from £170 a night (dogs stay free), Early risers at West Cawthorne may catch sight of the resident barn owl hunting. This time of year is especially lovely in Yorkshire's Vale of Pickering, where two chic converted barns and two A-frame cabins sit among 10 hectares of farmland and wildflower meadow. About 45 minutes' drive away is Whitby Abbey – where Christian missionaries gathered in the seventh century to agree how to determine the dates of Easter. The Farndale daffodil walk is 30 miles inland from the abbey – aim for a weekday morning to beat the crowds. Less busy is the hike to Mallyan Spout, a 21-metre (70ft) waterfall reached through ancient woodland filled with bluebells and wild West Range sleeps 4, from £160 a night; the South Range sleeps 6, from £185, In the folds of the South Downs, the Alfriston hotel opens at the end of this month – just in time for bluebell season. On the edge of the East Sussex village from which it takes its name, the revamped country retreat has 38 rooms, a brasserie serving seasonal classics, a spa and outdoor pool. The South Downs Way passes through Alfriston – pick up the trail for a bracing ascent of Firle Beacon, riverside walks through the Cuckmere valley and into Friston forest for a sea of bluebells. At nearby Charleston farmhouse, once home of the Bloomsbury group, you can sign up for seasonal workshops from natural pigment making (29 April) to botanical painting (13 May), or book ahead for the Charleston festival (14-26 May), which this year features Deborah Levy and Richard E Alfriston opens 27 March, doubles from £150 B&B, Charleston house tickets £24 (adults), garden visits free, events and workshops individually priced Along the border between Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, the Golden Triangle is one of the few places to see a profusion of wild daffodils in Britain. For the most beautiful drifts, Vell Mill, near the village of Dymock, is the area's best surviving daffodil meadow. Or take the circular nine-mile Daffodil Way walk from Dymock woods through orchards and fields studded with yellow. Back in Dymock, the School Room is a smart Grade II-listed converted schoolhouse with oak-beamed ceilings, a short stroll from the community-run Beauchamp Arms 4, seven nights from £535, Just outside Glastonbury, the Apothecary Garden is a peaceful working garden, tended by a team passionate about medicinal plants and soil science. Spring equinox is marked by tapping birch trees for their sap. It is the garden's first harvest of the year, beginning another cycle of growing and tending, working in harmony with nature. Visitors can stay among the Damask rose bushes, potent organic herbs and an apple orchard in a handful of cabins, sturdy tents and a bigger barn. Contemplate a more personal reawakening in the garden's stone circle or join visiting experts, such as alchemist Charlotte Pulver, whose past workshops have included rose or mistletoe medicine-making Barn sleeps 5 from £190 a night, cabins sleep 2 from £125 a night, tents sleep 2 from £95 a night (all two-nights minimum stay), Down a wiggling track near the Welsh border, Drovers Rest offers farm stays with added alpacas and the spirit of South Africa, where the owners hail from. Six super-size safari tents would not look out of place in Kruger national park, while Saturday nights sizzle with three-course braai feasts. Of the three stone cottages, Drovers Cottage is the most remote, sitting high above the River Wye surrounded by a sheep-grazed common. Back at the farmyard, there are guided animal safaris (at 9am four days a week; free for guests), organised campfire experiences (complete with marshmallows and cookies for s'mores) and Easter egg hunts during the holidays. Cottages sleep 4, three nights from £525, Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Glen Dye's colour-splashed collection of cottages, cabins and an old showman's caravan are upbeat whatever the Scottish weather. The newest is the three-bedroom Gamekeeper's Cottage, though all have the run of the estate, where wood sorrel carpets the forest floor and yellow, sweet-smelling azaleas brighten up the banks along the River Dye. There are all sorts of activities to get the heart pumping at the recently opened Discovery and Adventure Centre (axe throwing, bushcraft, archery tag), as well as an adventure trail that winds through woodland. Afterwards, warm up in the wood-fired sauna or with a beer by the fire at the BYOB pub the Glen Dye Cottage sleeps 6, from £375 a night, On the north-west coast of the Isle of Mull, Treshnish is home to an award-winning wildlife-friendly hill farm with self-catering cottages. Four of them, plus a shepherd's hut, are near the farmhouse, while the others – including three historic black houses – are a mile further down a bumpy track. In April, owners Somerset and Carolyne Charrington will be preparing for lambing, while puffins arrive on the uninhabited Treshnish Islands and white-tailed eagles hover along the coast. Check out the Mull music festival in Tobermory (24‑28 April; about 45 minutes' drive). By May, spring has caught up with Mull: the swallows return as the sailing season begins and yachts, as well as seabirds, swoop past on the sleep 2-4, from £400 a week, The woodland floor beneath Brockloch Treehouse turns into a bobbing sea of bluebells in May. This off-grid hideout is on Brockloch Farm in Galloway – an overlooked corner of Scotland. On a sunny day, the treehouse's dozens of tiny windows mimic the effect of dappled sunlight pouring through the trees, and at night the skylights above the bed and the sunken bath frame the treetops and stars. Beyond this nest, arty Kirkcudbright is interesting, particularly during the annual Spring Fling open studios (24-26 May, across Dumfries and Galloway): check out sculptor Kerry Samantha Boyes's mind-bogglingly realistic fake food workshop. While further inland, cosmic-inspired Crawick Multiverse is a massive land art installation by the late landscape architect Charles 2, from £180 a night, On the south banks of the River Tay in Fife, Hyrneside farm has been fertile ground for centuries, providing timber for shipbuilding, stone for monks to build nearby Lindores Abbey, freshwater springs and hillsides to graze livestock. Today, apple trees line the fields, and the fruit is turned into Aipple – part of Scotland's emerging cider scene. The blossom will soon start to open around Old Parkhill Cottage, a converted byre on the farm. There's a bottle of Aipple and one of Argle Bargle sparkling apple juice in the welcome basket – just the thing to take on a stroll along the Fife Coastal Path, where the coconut scent of the bright yellow gorse (known as whins in these parts) heralds the arrival of 6, four nights from £1,540, From their studios in Glasgow and the Highlands, architects Baillie and Baillie (founded by Colin and Megan, partners in work and life) create minimalist, sustainable homes. Iorram, their self-built holiday cottage in the village of Plockton, is no different, crafted from Scottish Douglas fir and clay block walls, finished in natural clay plaster and traditional lime harling. It's a celebration of simplicity, and the perfect place to watch the changing colours across the hillside above Loch Carron. Walk the track lined with gorse and birch trees that leads from the house through the village to the secluded Coral beach – where the sand is made from tiny pieces of calcified seaweed called maerl. If it's too chilly for a dip, you could head out on the water without getting wet with Calum's Seal 2, from £200 a night (based on a three-night stay), baillie‑ Y Felin at Dolaumaen Isaf, a former mill on the edge of the Preseli Hills, was restored by artists Robin and Yoshi Dale-Thomas. Robin's glazed bowls line the shelves in the kitchen. Upstairs, there's an antique writing desk in the corner of the bedroom, so you can turn any stay into a creative retreat. It's an inspiring spot at any time of the year – views stretch out to the jagged top of Carn Menyn – but especially now when the surrounding meadows are coloured with primroses. Guests can use Robin and Yoshi's garden sauna and plunge pool, or head to nearby Mwnt beach, one of Wales's loveliest stretches, for a swim to blast away the last of the winter 2, three nights from £353, North Wales has a fantastic adventure scene. However, before the adrenaline junkies arrived, this was slate-mining country, and the carved-out landscape was granted Unesco world heritage status in 2021. Now, the former Llechwedd mine has been reinvented as Zip World, with subterranean obstacle courses and a 60mph zip line, while the quarry owner's mansion is now the Plas Weunydd hotel. It has just had a facelift, adding five family suites, as well as a boot room for drying muddy gear. The biking and hiking trails in the Eryri national park (Snowdonia) will be quieter before the summer swarm, and the hotel organises monthly guided mountain walks (16 April and 15 May). At Coed y Brenin forest park you can whiz down gravel tracks on mountain bikes past banks of bluebells and wild garlic, while Llyn Mair is a pretty, lesser-known lakeland walking Weunydd reopens 11 April, doubles from £100 B&B, Northern Ireland's Mourne Mountains were the inspiration for CS Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia – the Belfast-born author wrote in a letter to his brother: 'That part of Rostrevor which overlooks Carlingford Lough is my idea of Narnia.' This epic range – home to the region's highest peaks topped with dramatic granite tors – rolls all the way down to the Irish Sea. There, right on the promenade in Newcastle, the Avoca hotel is the place to step through the wardrobe (or out the front door) into this mythical realm. Conquer 852m Slieve Donard, or for something less giant, loop the Narnia Trail at Kilbroney Park. And while there might not be any fauns, Tollymore Forest Park has trails through magical beech woodland. Doubles from £150 B&B, On the north-eastern tip of the Causeway Coast, Yarn is an ambitious new project transforming Ballycastle's old Danske Bank into an exciting creative hub (in a previous life the building was a wool exchange, hence the name). Upstairs are five apartments, each decorated with handmade furniture, mid-century finds and Irish design – Field Day toiletries from County Down, mugs from Belfast potter Gillybean and wool blankets by McNutt of Donegal. Downstairs, Ursa Minor Bakery School runs holistic Soil to Soul cooking workshops (starring seasonal nettles, wild garlic and Armagh asparagus) and pastry classes (the next one focusing on rhubarb and strawberries). The final piece of the puzzle, Yarn Arts Project, kicks off in April with art classes, monthly film screenings and live gigs – there's also a summer comedy festival and harvest banquet to look forward to. Apartments sleep 2, from £130 a night,
