Trading standards advise residents not to fall victim to ticket scams during UEFA Euro 2024 – Newsroom

Croydon Council’s trading standards advise residents how to avoid falling victim to online ticket fraud during summer sporting events – such as Euro 2024 in Germany and the Paris 2024 Olympics – and music festivals.

Thousands of sports and music fans fall victim to online ticket fraud nationwide each year. Fraudulent tickets are often sold on social media, online marketplaces, genuine sales sites or fan forums.

Croydon’s Trading Standards have teamed up with National Trading Standards to give residents advice on how to #GetSafeOnline and report any incidents of ticket fraud. The best advice on buying tickets safely can be found on the Get Safe Online website.

In a ticket scam, the seller tells the buyer that they will post or email the tickets once the money is transferred to their bank account. But when the tickets don’t arrive, the seller is not contactable and often disappears from the sites. It is likely that dozens of other people were victims of the same fraud.

A Croydon resident reported being scammed out of thousands of pounds for hospitality tickets to Glastonbury 2023. The resident had successfully bought theater tickets from the seller on social media. The seller then offered hospitality tickets to Glastonbury. The package sounded so good that the resident, along with several of their family members and friends, paid for the tickets.

Together, they transferred £14,000 of their own money into the seller’s account. This was the last they saw of their money – the tickets never arrived and the money was never returned. The seller stopped responding to messages and disappeared from social media.

These scams trick online shoppers into thinking they’re dealing with a legitimate contact or company, when it’s actually an illegal activity.

Be aware of how to #GetSafeOnline this summer and visit the Get Safe Online website for more details.

Karen Agbabiaka, director of streets and environment, said: “It’s important that our residents stay safe online and don’t fall victim to online ticket fraud, which is why we’re sharing this information.

“With so many exciting events happening this summer, it can be tempting to accept offers on social media. But no matter how desperate you are to go to an event, stay safe online by following this guidance from Trading Standards.”