The Home Office has issued a stark warning to football fans as new figures reveal a sharp rise in ticket scams, with fraudsters targeting supporters ahead of the World Cup. Social media scammers are selling non-existent tickets for hundreds of pounds, leaving victims out of pocket.
Rising Scam Numbers
Alarming research shows that football ticket scams in the UK have increased by 36% over six months, with victims losing an average of £215 per incident this season. This represents a rise of over 40% compared to the previous year. Experts believe the upcoming World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada will be a prime target for fraudsters, especially given the high cost of tickets. FIFA has faced backlash after raising prices for the best seats to nearly £25,000.
How Scammers Operate
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, which is partnering with the Home Office to tackle ticket fraud, explained: "Fraudsters thrive on urgency and target fans looking for hard-to-get tickets for big-name fixtures. Most of the football ticket scams we see start on social media – especially Facebook and Instagram – before the criminal moves the buyer onto WhatsApp and insists on a bank transfer to pay. It's incredibly convincing, and we don't want fans to lose their money trying to support their team. We're urging supporters to stay alert and stick to official ticketing channels."
It is expected that online tricksters will use a similar approach for the World Cup, creating fake waiting lists to give victims a sense of urgency. Analysis of thousands of scam cases found that fans of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United were the most likely to be targeted between October 2025 and March 2026.
Government Response
Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said: "Only buy directly from FIFA or the FIFA Resale Marketplace. Missing out on a big match is disappointing, but becoming a victim to a scam makes it even harder to bear. Our new fraud strategy sets out how we will use every tool at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle criminal operations, bring fraudsters to justice, and strengthen support for victims."
Earlier this year, ministers launched a new Fraud Strategy, which included a £31 million investment for a new Online Crime Centre to combat such offences.
