Beware the Scammers: Shocking Ticket Resale Scams on Bank Holiday Events!

Music fans are sounding the alarm over a rising trend of ticket scams targeting those attempting to purchase sold-out event tickets during Bank Holidays. Jasmine, 22, fell victim after discovering tickets to the 1Way X Aura party at Thorpe Park being sold on social media right before the event. She and a friend sent a total of £180 to separate sellers but received nothing in return. Another victim, seeking tickets for an RnB event in London, was also cheated out of £60 after being blocked by the seller post-transaction.

The UK’s Action Fraud and consumer group Which? report that fraudsters are leveraging high demand for holiday events to carry out scams. Jasmine shared her experience, recalling that the seller, who appeared credible with 1,000 followers and provided what seemed to be legitimate screenshots, unexpectedly requested payment through a friend’s account, raising some suspicion. They did successfully recover £90 from one bank but lost another £90 via a different payment method.

Another victim, who preferred anonymity, described how the ticket price seemed reasonable and didn’t appear suspicious until it was too late, leading to a quick block after payment.

Experts warn that such scams are prevalent, especially during high-demand events like Bank Holidays, with £9.7 million reported lost to ticket fraud in the past year. Individuals are urged to remain vigilant: check sellers’ credibility, be cautious of prices that seem too good to be true, and ensure purchases are made from authorized sellers and established websites. Claire Webb from Action Fraud advises potential buyers to recognize warning signs and protect themselves from falling victim to these opportunistic fraudsters.