Social media companies have been accused of enabling ticket scams as Lloyds Banking Group revealed a surge since the Oasis on-sale in August.
Lloyds said hundreds of Oasis fans have reported being scammed in the last few weeks. They make up around 70% of all reported concert ticket scams since the band’s on-sale commenced on August 27.
Victims have lost an average of £346, with some cases reaching as high as £1,000. Those aged 35-44 years old were most likely to be targeted by the ticket fraudsters, making up almost a third (31%) of all cases.
Over 90% of reported cases started with fake adverts or posts on social media, with the vast majority originating on Facebook, which includes Facebook Marketplace. Lloyds said a search of Facebook reveals numerous unofficial groups have been set up, many boasting tens of thousands of members, dedicated to buying and selling tickets for the Oasis tour. It noted that Meta’s own commerce policy states that the sale of concert tickets is “not allowed” on the platform.
How fraudsters target social media
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: “Predictably fraudsters wasted no time in targeting loyal Oasis fans as they scrambled to pick up tickets for next year’s must-see reunion tour.
“The fact that so many cases start with fake listings on social media, often in violation of the platforms’ own rules, underscores the importance of these companies taking stronger action to tackle scams.
“Buying directly from reputable, authorised platforms is the only way to guarantee you’re paying for a genuine ticket. If you’re asked to pay via bank transfer, particularly by a seller you’ve found on social media, that should immediately set alarm bells ringing.”
Lloyds said purchase scams happen when someone is tricked into sending money via bank transfer (also known as a Faster Payment) to buy goods or services that do not exist. It said ticket scams usually involve fake adverts, posts or listings on social media, offering tickets at discounted prices, or access to events which have already sold out at inflated prices.
The banking group said fans can avoid being scammed by being cautious on social media and using secure payment methods.
Last month it was announced that promoters Live Nation and SJM Concerts are set to cancel more than 50,000 tickets for the band’s reunion tour in the UK, after they were listed on secondary platforms.
The UK’s competition watchdog launched an investigation into whether Ticketmaster breached consumer rights rules during August’s controversial Oasis on-sale.
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