Police are urging the public to be wary of scammers when booking tickets for concerts and events this summer, as not only does this type of fraud leave people out of pocket financially, but it will also leave them left outside the doors of concert venues.

With increased concert ticket scams particularly on social media and third-party websites, this has become a significant concern for police and our partners. Scammers often create fake listings offering tickets at inflated prices, especially for sold-out events. Once an individual has ‘purchased’ tickets and money has been sent, the scammer will then disappear, with no tickets actually ever being for sale.

Inspector Anderson said: “We’ve had reports of people buying tickets through social media platforms, thinking they’re getting the real deal, only to find out the money they’ve shelled out is to someone who isn’t genuine, and the tickets they’ve paid hundreds of pounds for never existed in the first place. With some big names on tour this summer across a number of venues, demand is always high for these concerts which have, in reality, been sold out months in advance. Avid fans are then being exploited, often by organised crime criminals, in the hope of seeing their idols live.

“Ticket fraud often involves the use of images and graphics taken from genuine sellers to make fake websites look legitimate, or use contact through social media platforms. The advertisement or offer may appear genuine, but there will be subtle differences buyers should look closely at, such as the actual website address.

“With most of the summer gigs kicking off next month, people should only buy tickets from legitimate, authorised ticket sellers and resellers, as criminals will exploit the eagerness by fans to get their hands on tickets for a show or gig they really want.

“I would also urge parents buying tickets for children and young adults going to a concert, and those who make a last-minute decision to go to a concert, to be really cautious when buying your ticket. Too often, we see reports of tickets that don’t materialise at all, or are just screenshots of genuine tickets that won’t get you any farther than the ticket barrier, which can be really upsetting for the individual involved.

"The safest way to ensure tickets bought are genuine, is to purchase them from the authorised ticket seller or authorised re-seller. We'd also advise against buying tickets from other sources, such as third parties because you can never be sure of the validity and authenticity of the tickets. When purchasing a ticket from a reseller you should also check the re-sale or transfer policy for that concert, often there are strict policies regarding how tickets can be sold or transferred, breaching these can mean your ticket is invalid. Similarly, some events require the person booking the tickets to attend the event, so it’s always important to check the fine print of the event itself.

“Ticket fraud is a continuing problem and fraudsters will try everything to lure people into falling for their scams. It is vital people take extra care when purchasing tickets. Please follow our Stop. Check. Report. advice and recognise the signs of ticket fraud before getting caught out. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!"

“If you lose money in a ticket fraud, report it to your bank and to Action Fraud on www.actionfraud.police.uk or call police on 101. You can also find out more on our website at http://www.psni.police.uk/ticket-fraud.”

ADVICE: How to spot scam ticket websites before purchasing -

STOP - Whilst it’s always tempting to rush in and buy those hot tickets, don’t rush into buying a ticket. Do not transfer money by bank transfer and only pay by a protect payment method. 

CHECK - Check the website or re-seller you are buying from before you buy. Check the events ticket re-sale policy to make sure tickets re-sold remain valid, or if there is a designated resale agent, or specific policies for this event or venue. Check the venue or the event website. If you have bought a ticket, and you are concerned about the validity of it, check with the event on its validity.

REPORT - If you lose money in a ticket fraud, don’t just shake it off, report it to police at www.psni.police.uk/report or to your bank. You can also report to Action Fraud on www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling police on 101. Further information is available at www.psni.police.uk/ticket-fraud.