Monzo, a UK bank with more than 16 million personal and business customers, has urged people to stay safe over the next few months as it warns they could be taken advantage of. With Halloween and Christmas approaching, demand for event tickets is set to spike. From Santa Claus (or Santa Paws) meet-and-greets to Halloween party nights and themed outdoor cinemas, popular events can sell out fast, pushing people to snap up tickets wherever they can—even when the listing looks dodgy.
Average loss reaches £1,295
Earlier this year, Monzo conducted research showing that the real cost of ticket scams often goes well beyond the price of the ticket itself. When additional event-related costs are included, the findings show the average loss rises to £1,295 per person. If, for example, the Halloween event ticket you buy is fake, that's £1,295 that's been drained from your account, and you may not always be able to get it back.
For Halloween, these surrounding costs quickly stack up. Monzo found that among people who were victims of ticket scams: 32% lost money on travel, transport, hotels, or accommodation; 28% lost money on food and restaurant bookings; 24% lost money spent on clothes bought specifically for the event such as costumes and outfits; 23% lost money on childcare, pet care, or time booked off work; and 39% spent even more money trying to salvage their plans with alternative activities.
How to avoid ticket scams
It's not just Monzo customers who could be at risk. This can happen to anyone, at any bank, with any card, at any event, and at any age. That's why everyone should stay vigilant whenever making a purchase—especially during busy periods.
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.”
Monzo advises six ways to avoid ticket scams this Halloween. Watch out for urgency tricks: 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 where scammers prey on trusted users. 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: check if the vendor has the STAR logo, which means they're a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, showing they are compliant with proper regulatory standards. Avoid direct bank transfers: be wary of sellers asking for direct bank transfers or peer-to-peer payments, 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—if it becomes difficult, beware that this may be a scammer.
Spot 'too good to be true' prices: if a ticket for a sold-out Halloween event or immersive experience is listed well below face value or unusually low when demand is sky-high, treat it as a red flag. Report suspicious listings immediately: if you suspect an offer is fake, report the seller's profile on the social media platform directly and alert your bank immediately. If you bank with Monzo, you can speak to them directly in the app, 24/7.
How Monzo protects customers
Monzo combines real-time security features with smart app controls to stop ticket scams before money ever leaves an account. This means customers can take advantage of the following to stay as safe as possible.
Undo Payments: if you realise you've made a payment under pressure or sent money to the wrong person, Monzo includes an instant Undo Payments tool (set to 15 seconds by default, adjustable up to 60 seconds) so you can reverse an unconfirmed payment straight away. Instant Notifications & In-App Support: every payment triggers an instant notification so you can catch unauthorised transactions immediately. If you suspect fraud, you can connect directly with Monzo's specialists 24/7 in the app or call 159 from any UK number.
Fraud Detection Systems specialising in Purchase Scams: 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 you make is flagged, you'll be able to speak to a human to discuss the transaction and get help.
