A 34-year-old man from Kent has warned music fans to be vigilant after falling victim to a ticket scam for an Ariana Grande concert. Dominic Peterson purchased two tickets from a third-party website for £100 each, only to discover they were fake upon arrival at the O2 Arena in London.
Peterson, who had travelled from Kent with a friend, was refused entry at the venue. He described feeling 'horrified' and said the incident ruined what was meant to be a great night. He also expressed concerns about the personal data he provided, including his full name and payment details, and subsequently cancelled his bank card as a precaution.
The warning comes as Barclays reports that scammers are increasingly targeting music fans searching for tickets to sold-out events. According to the bank's research, the average ticket fraud victim loses £179, and more than a third of victims fall for at least three different ticketing scams within two years.
Ross Martin, head of digital safety at Barclays, urged festival-goers to prioritise online safety. 'As we enter the festival season, it is easy to forget our online safety as people look to secure their must-have tickets,' he said. 'Make sure you are carrying out proper safety checks to ensure your festival experience is not ruined by fraudsters.'
Peterson advised buyers to research websites thoroughly and only use recognised platforms. 'In hindsight, I should have seen warning signs as the website did look a bit amateur,' he said. 'The best thing to do is always do as much research as possible.'
