Nearly a third of young UK gig goers have been sold a fake ticket
Key Points
- New O2 research finds 14% of UK gig goers surveyed have bought a fake ticket, rising to 31% of 18 to 24-year-olds.
- Ticket fraud cost UK fans £150 million over the past year, according to the same research.
- More than three-quarters of fake tickets (77%) were bought through online platforms.
- The government and O2 are urging fans to buy only from official ticketing websites ahead of tours from Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Bon Jovi.
- Plans to ban resale above face value are still at draft legislation stage.
Almost a third of UK gig goers aged 18 to 24 have been sold a fake ticket, according to new O2 research published as the government renews its Stop! Think Fraud campaign.
The polling found 14% of gig goers surveyed had bought a fake ticket, with 31% of 18 to 24-year-olds affected against 4% of those aged 55 and over.
More than three-quarters of the fake tickets (77%) were bought through online platforms. O2 puts the total lost to ticket fraud over the past year at £150 million.
Ticket fraud covers purchases made through a website or social media platform where the tickets never arrive or turn out to be fake.
The Home Office and O2 issued the warning as festival season continues and ahead of UK tours from Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Bon Jovi, pointing to last-minute social media listings as the main risk.
“Fraud is an absolutely shameful crime, and this data shows that anyone can be a victim,” said Lord Hanson of Flint, Fraud Minister.
“Scammers exploit our excitement and desperation to see our favourite artists live. They post fake messages on social media seeking to catch fans when their guard is down in a last-minute rush for tickets.”
“Ticketing scams are a blight on the UK’s live music industry, and it’s heartbreaking to see so many fans being targeted,” said Gareth Griffiths, Director of Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2. “Seeing your favourite artist live should be an exciting experience, not one that leaves you out of pocket or turned away at the door.”
O2 sponsors 21 UK venues and sold more than 1.7 million tickets through Priority Tickets last year. It has campaigned with the FanFair Alliance since 2017 for a more transparent ticketing market and launched Stamp It Tout last year, an online hub covering the resale market.
The government committed £250 million to tackling fraud earlier this year as part of a new fraud strategy, and set up an Online Crime Centre bringing together police and industry to disrupt scams and support victims.
Ministers have announced plans to make it illegal to resell tickets to live events above their original cost, but the measures remain at draft legislation stage and are not yet law.
How to avoid ticket fraud
- Take time over any offer for a high-demand event rather than rushing a decision.
- Buy only from official ticketing websites. Artists link to official sellers from their own social media and websites.
- Never move off an official payment platform to pay by bank transfer or virtual currency.
- Second-hand tickets carry risks. Some platforms refund scam victims, but none can guarantee entry to a show.
