Monzo has issued a safety warning to its 16 million personal and business customers ahead of the Halloween and Christmas season, when demand for tickets to events such as Santa meet-and-greets, haunted houses, and themed outdoor cinema screenings is expected to surge.
The bank warns that financial damage from ticket scams can extend far beyond the face value of a ticket. Research carried out by Monzo earlier this year found that, once people factor in wider event costs, the average loss climbs to £1,295 per person. In other words, if a Halloween ticket turns out to be fake, you could be left hundreds—or more than a thousand pounds—out of pocket, and you may not always be able to recover the money.
Additional costs add up quickly
Monzo found that among people who were victims of ticket scams, 23% lost money on childcare, pet care, or time booked off work; 24% lost money on clothes bought specifically for the event; 28% lost money on food and restaurant bookings; 32% lost money on travel, transport, hotels, or accommodation; and 39% spent even more money trying to salvage their plans with alternative activities.
The bank stresses that this can happen to anyone, no matter your age, which bank you use, or what type of event you are buying tickets for. It is important for everyone to stay alert when making purchases, particularly during busy periods.
Advice from Monzo's fraud chief
Gareth Murray, Senior Director of Financial Crime and Fraud at Monzo, said: “Halloween marks the start of the party season, where people are making plans and buying tickets to popular events. But this excitement, especially when events sell out, can create opportunities for scammers to take advantage.
“To stay safe, always buy through official channels, avoid bank transfers to sellers on social media, and remember that if a price looks too good to be true, it usually is. At Monzo, we proactively protect customers from fraud and scams, with real-time scam warnings, 24/7 support, and industry-first security features like Call Status and Added Security.”
Six ways to avoid ticket scams this Halloween
Monzo advises watching out for urgency tricks, as scammers build pressure with claims like “last few tickets left” or “buyers waiting” to rush you into a decision. Take a minute to stop, challenge the request, and check if you feel completely confident before making a payment.
Be cautious on social media: over 80% of ticket scams originate on social media platforms, community groups, or direct messages. Aim to purchase from official venue ticketing partners or authorised resale platforms with verified buyer protection only—if purchased through an official merchant, a refund is guaranteed if the ticket is fake.
Look out for the STAR logo, which indicates the vendor is a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers and compliant with proper regulatory standards. Spot “too good to be true” prices: if a ticket for a sold-out event is listed well below face value or unusually low when demand is high, treat it as a red flag.
Report suspicious listings immediately by reporting the seller's profile on the social media platform and alerting your bank. Avoid direct bank transfers, as these offer significantly less buyer protection than credit or debit cards if the ticket turns out to be fake. Instead, aim to exchange the money in person in a safe environment and monitor the seller's reaction to this request.
How Monzo protects customers from purchase scams
Monzo combines real-time security features with smart app controls to stop ticket scams before money ever leaves an account. Customers can use the Undo Payments tool, which is set to 15 seconds by default and adjustable up to 60 seconds, to reverse an unconfirmed payment straight away.
Every payment triggers an instant notification so customers can catch unauthorised transactions immediately. If fraud is suspected, customers can connect directly with Monzo's specialists 24/7 in the app or call 159 from any UK number. Monzo's specialist teams have developed sophisticated scam detection systems to identify transactions that are at a high risk of being potential purchase scams. If a payment is flagged, customers can speak to a human to discuss the transaction and get help.
