Jordan Moore, 32, of Smithy Lane in Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port, has been sentenced for defrauding seven victims out of more than £5,000 by selling fake tickets on Facebook and Gumtree. The fraud occurred between November 2023 and March 2025, with five charges related to fraudulent sales of Taylor Swift concert tickets and two involving greyhound equipment.
How the Scam Worked
Moore advertised two tickets for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 30, 2024, on Facebook. He claimed the tickets were purchased via Ticketmaster using an early-access code in July 2023 and that the event had sold out within ten minutes. In his post, he wrote: "I don't require any upfront payment as would prefer to meet in person to show tickets in my account etc and complete transaction."
Moore took payment for access to his Ticketmaster account, allowing buyers to change the password. However, victims found themselves locked out and unable to access the tickets. He also sold fake greyhound equipment, including dog crates, coats, and muzzles.
Victim Testimonies
Leona Walsh, 32, from Bristol, lost £1,000 after contacting Moore about the tickets. She sent £850 on March 30, 2024, and Moore allowed her to change the password. He later requested access again, claiming he needed to source tickets for boyband Blue. Ms Walsh said: "I asked if he could just go on AXS and look for tickets [for Blue] on there, and said that it seems a bit weird. He said he had always used Ticketmaster and he just wanted to browse for tickets there. So, I gave him back the password."
On the same day, John Raaness, 49, from Dublin, paid £1,100 as a deposit for access to the account. Mr Raaness said: "At one time I saw the name Leona was on the account and he said it was his ex-girlfriend and that she had the tickets before, and I thought that made sense - but he was actually also scamming Leona at the same time."
Court Sentencing
Moore pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation. At Chester Crown Court on June 19, he was sentenced to 19 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £3,808 in compensation.
Following the sentencing, PC Hindley from Cheshire Police said: “Moore preyed on his victims, specifically using Taylor Swift tickets as a hook to lure them in and defraud them of thousands of pounds. He was well aware that what he was doing was wrong, but he thought that he would be able to outsmart his victims and avoid justice. Unfortunately for him, thanks to the information provided by the victims, and the evidence gathered by the team here at Cheshire Police, his plans fell apart and he has now been held accountable for his actions.”
Police Advice on Avoiding Ticket Fraud
Police urge the public to buy tickets only from official sources such as the venue’s box office, official promoter, or well-known ticketing websites. Avoid paying by bank transfer; credit cards or PayPal offer better protection. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-step verification. Be cautious of unsolicited offers and check if the vendor is a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR).
If you have been a victim, inform your bank immediately and monitor your statements. Check your credit file regularly and consider Cifas services. Be aware of secondary scams where fraudsters claim they can recover lost money. Report fraud to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit the website.
