Looking for Last-Minute Tickets To Top Summer Events- Fraud Advice
Published: 30 June 2025
Latest advice from the Kent Police, Prevent And Protect Fraud Officer, Prevent And Protect Fraud Team
In 2
024, over £9.7 million was lost to ticket fraud in the UK alone
Going to this summers hottest events? Follow our tips to avoid ticket scams:
• Only buy tickets from official sources, direct from the venue’s box office, the promoter, an official agent or a well-known and reputable ticket exchange site.
• Should you choose to buy tickets from an individual (for example on eBay or on a social media), avoid paying via bank transfer or virtual currency: never transfer the money directly into their bank account but use a secure payment site such as PayPal but never pay through the family/friends option.
• Paying for your tickets by credit card will offer increased protection over other payments methods, such as debit card, cash, or money transfer services. Avoid making payments through bank transfer or money transfer services, as the payment may not be recoverable.
• Check the contact details of the site you’re buying the tickets from. There should be a landline phone number and a full postal address. Avoid using the site if there is only a PO box address and mobile phone number, as it could be difficult to get in touch with customer services after you buy tickets. PO box addresses and mobile phone numbers are easy to change and difficult to trace.
• Before entering any payment details on a website, make sure the web address starts with https (the ‘s’ stands for secure). There should be a locked padlock icon in the browser’s address bar.
• Check if your ticket vendor is a @STARticketing member. Their members adhere to strict standards and offer an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service.