“I bought gig tickets and they never arrived. Have I been scammed?”
The excitement of booking tickets for your favourite artist can quickly turn to worry when the tickets don’t materialise. You might be left wondering if you’ve been scammed, and what to do next. Understanding the situation and the steps you can take is key.
Why ticket scams happen
The popularity of live events make ticket sales a massive target for scammers. They’ll often exploit your eagerness to see sold-out shows by creating fake listings or selling non-existent tickets.
How to spot a potential scam
If you’re experiencing any of the following things, it could be a sign of a potential scam:
Unusual prices: watch out for ticket prices that are significantly different to face value, or what other sellers are offering. And if the price really looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Pressure to buy quickly: scammers often create a sense of urgency – like claiming there are only a limited number of tickets left – to rush you into making a purchase without thinking it through. Always take a beat to ask yourself if you feel comfortable and confident with making the payment.
Requests for unusual payment methods: be wary of sellers who ask you to make a payment directly to their personal account or via cryptocurrency, as these offer less buyer protection than credit and debit cards.
What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
If you’re worried you’ve been scammed, here are some steps you should take:
Step 1: contact the ticket platform
If you bought the tickets through a recognised ticket resale platform, contact their customer support straight away. They should have buyer protection policies in place and can investigate the seller.
Step 2: contact your bank
Tell your bank or credit card company about the situation as soon as possible. If you bank with Monzo, you can speak to us directly in the app, 24/7.
Step 3: report the scam
You should report the incident to Action Fraud online or by phone. Give them as much evidence as you can – like messages, screenshots of the ticket listing and payment details – so they can track and investigate. If the seller was advertising on a social media platform, you can also report their profile.
How to stay safe when buying tickets
To reduce the risk of ticket scams in the future, follow these tips:
Buy from authorised sellers: try to purchase tickets directly from the official event organiser’s website or reputable ticket platforms.
Be wary of social media: exercise caution when buying tickets from people on social media. Over 80% of these kinds of scams take place on platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
Check seller reviews: if you’re using a resale platform, check the seller’s ratings and reviews from other buyers.
Use secure payment methods: credit cards and some debit cards offer better buyer protection than direct bank transfers or less traceable methods, like cash.
Take five: stop, challenge and protect yourself against fraudsters
Take Five is a national fraud prevention campaign in the UK that reminds people to stop and take a moment before taking an action that could be harmful. For example, sending money to someone you don’t know. To help you remember the risks, Take Five suggests taking these three steps:
Stop: take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information. Think you paid the wrong person or entered the wrong amount? If you bank with Monzo, you can now undo it right away. The undo timer’s set to 15 seconds by default but you can change it to 10 seconds, 30 seconds or 60 seconds.
Challenge: could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect: contact your bank immediately (get in touch via the Monzo app) if you think you’ve been scammed and report it to Action Fraud.
Learn how Monzo keeps you safe.
UK residents. Ts&Cs apply.