New research conducted on behalf of Nationwide Building Society has found that as many as one in four UK residents have fallen victim to ticketing scams, losing an average of £82 (€96/$104).
The research was undertaken by Censuswide and found that ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) was driving decision-making when it came to high-demand events, like Glastonbury and major sporting fixtures.
More than half (51%) of those surveyed would consider purchasing tickets from questionable sources to avoid missing out, while 22% were prepared to pay extra.
Those aged between 25-34 were the most vulnerable, with nearly one in five admitting they’re more likely to take risks the closer it gets to their big event. Some 40% of this age group would also knowingly risk buying fake tickets.
This is compared to only 3% of over-55s and 13% of 45-54s saying they would take the risk to attend such an in-demand event.
With the UK’s summer just around the corner, major events such as Glastonbury Festival could be alluring enough to consider buying tickets from unofficial sources.
“Glastonbury is the UK’s biggest festival and one of the most popular anywhere in the world,” commented Jim Winters, director of economic crime at Nationwide.
“When offered high-demand tickets that are cheap, or even just available, fans can easily lose control of their senses as their hearts rule their heads. High demand and low availability, fuelled by FOMO, create the perfect conditions for criminals to exploit victims. It might be tempting to take risks but it’s unlikely to pay off, causing worry, stress and regret.
“This is why, as the Glastonbury resale kicks in, our customers should check transactions they are unsure about with our Scam Checker Service, available on the phone or in branch.”
The Glastonbury resale usually takes place around now, after the period to pay remaining balances on tickets comes to an end. Any tickets that have been cancelled or not fully paid for are returned and placed back on sale.
Many victims do not realise they have been scammed until the sellers stop responding (21%), they are refused entry at the event with their invalid e-tickets (20%), or when their physical tickets never show up (17%).