You probably dream of seeing your Idol Taylor Swift perform live. Hence, when you hear Swift's Eras tour, you jump with joy only to miss out on the tickets. However, as luck would have it, you come across a Facebook post of someone selling their four tickets. Your heart beats with joy as your dream as a Swiftie is one step closer. Sadly, it turns out to be a scam which has been a common theme with many Taylor Swift fans who have lost over £1m.
According to Lloyds Bank, 600 customers reported losing money to the scam with the average being £332 with some losing as much as £1000. So, how do you spot a fake Taylor Swift ticket scam and how can you avoid it?
With the Swift's Eras tour tickets selling quickly, it made fans who missed out desperate which made scammers go all out. According to Lloyds Bank, most of the Taylor Swift scam starts on Facebook with scammers claiming to have extra tickets.
Source: Facebook
Source: Twitter
Once you engage them, they will take your money and fail to deliver the tickets. In most cases, they will not even respond to your messages and their Facebook account will most likely be closed down. To avoid being taken down by Facebook, they will post about the tickets only to remove the posts a few hours later. Thus, when Facebook investigates, they will not see the post.
Here are some red flags to watch out for when purchasing tickets online:
A scammer trying to pressure a customer into making a quick payment
Consider the case of Sarah, a devoted Taylor Swift fan. Sarah came across a Facebook post offering four tickets to the Eras tour. The seller claimed to have a family emergency and needed to sell the tickets quickly at a discounted price. Excited and eager, Sarah transferred the money but never received the tickets. The seller disappeared, and Sarah's dream of seeing Taylor Swift was shattered, along with her savings.
Ticket scams will always take many forms whether you are buying Taylor Swift’s tickets or getting Olympic tickets. To avoid this, there are many different ways you can use to protect yourself against ticket scams;
Before purchasing tickets, research the company or individual selling them. Stick to buying tickets from official sources such as the venue, the promoter (like Live Nation), or authorized agents like Ticketmaster. Trusted ticket exchange sites can also be safe options.
Be cautious when using search engines like Google to find tickets. Scammers can pay for ads to appear at the top of search results, making their fraudulent listings look legitimate. Always verify the authenticity of the website you’re buying from.
Check for logos or certifications that indicate the seller is reputable. For example, the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) logo means the vendor adheres to strict industry standards.
Never pay for tickets via bank transfer, especially when dealing with someone you don’t know. Credit cards or payment services like PayPal offer better protection and a higher chance of recovering your money if you fall victim to fraud.
Watch out for emails, texts, or ads that promise amazing ticket deals out of the blue. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always double-check the source before you go ahead with any purchase.
The excitement of seeing Taylor Swift live should not come at the cost of falling victim to a scam. Anyone offering tickets on Facebook is likely not a legitimate seller and should be approached with extreme caution. Scammers often use social media platforms to lure in unsuspecting fans with fake tickets.
Always verify the authenticity of the tickets and the seller before making any purchases. Stick to official ticketing websites or authorized resellers to avoid being duped.
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