This august sees the start of the new Premier League and Championship seasons, as we have moved on from the excitement of the Euros and get back into focussing on our chosen clubs. Now the details have been released for all matches which will be played this upcoming season, it’s clear demand will be high for key matches. Fortunately, Ticket Compare can help you source the best tickets for your preferred matches through the secondary market.
The unfortunate side of high ticket demand means these matches are a prime target for scammers to take advantage of fan interest. Untrustworthy websites often exploit this demand, defrauding fans who are eager to secure match tickets. Last year, Lloyds Bank reported the number of football ticket scams doubled from 2022 to 2023, with the average fan losing £154 on fraudulent purchases. Manchester United and Liverpool were the most targeted teams in 2023. We wanted to discover which club’s fans were most at risk for the new season so analysed crime data and club ticket interest to find out.
What is ticket fraud?
Ticket fraud occurs when you purchase tickets for an event, such as a football match or concert, but the tickets either don’t arrive or turn out to be fake, leading to money being lost. Scammers often create fake websites that look genuine, using names or URLs similar to legitimate ticket sellers to create trust. These fake sites and scammers exploit the high demand for popular events, offering tickets that are either sold out or not yet on sale.
Common ways ticket fraud happens:
- Fake direct sale websites: Fraudsters set up websites that mimic legitimate ticket sellers. These sites may look professional and convincing, but they don’t have real tickets to sell.
- Social media scams: Scammers use social media to advertise fake tickets, often posting photos of tickets that don’t exist. They might ask for fans to direct transfer funds then block them or delete their accounts after stealing the money. The fan is then left with no ticket or money.
- Fake resale sites: Some scammers create fake ticket resale sites, claiming to have tickets for sold-out events. They take your money but never deliver the tickets.
If you suspect you’ve been a victim of ticket fraud, report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
This season’s most at risk fans from ticket scams
We conducted a study, taking top Premier League and Championship teams to see which club’s fans could be at risk of falling victim to scams. We analysed each club’s ticket demand, regional crime rate, local consumer fraud rates and the average financial loss per area. Using this data, we created an index to score each club’s fan risk of being targeted by ticket scams this season.
The fans most at risk of being targeted for ticket scams
| # | FOOTBALL TEAM | REGION | POPULATION | AMOUNT LOST PER 1,000 PEOPLE £ | CYBER CRIME REPORTS PER REGION 22/23 | NUMBEO CRIME RATE | AVG. MONTHLY TICKET SEARCHES | CRIME PER POLICE DISTRICT AREA | TOTAL TARGET RISK SCORE (/100) |
| 1 | Arsenal | London | 8,900,000 | 5,258 | 38,300 | 54.7 | 41000 | 22,000 | 88 |
| 2 | Chelsea | London | 8,900,000 | 5,258 | 38,300 | 54.7 | 25000 | 22,000 | 76 |
| 3 | West Ham United | London | 8,900,000 | 5,258 | 38,300 | 54.7 | 26,000 | 22,000 | 76 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | London | 8,900,000 | 5,258 | 38,300 | 54.7 | 15000 | 22,000 | 68 |
| 5 | Manchester City | North West | 2,811,756 | 7,718 | 27,100 | 55.3 | 23000 | 6200 | 52 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | West Midlands | 1,141,400 | 13,492 | 19,200 | 63.7 | 14000 | 6200 | 51 |
| 7 | Liverpool | North West | 1,571,045 | 13,812 | 27,100 | 48.4 | 33000 | 2600 | 48 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | West Midlands | 264,000 | 58,333 | 19,200 | 63.29 | 9600 | 6200 | 46 |
| 9 | Manchester United | North West | 2,811,756 | 7,718 | 27,100 | 55.3 | 15000 | 6200 | 46 |
| 10 | West Bromwich Albion | West Midlands | 136,940 | 112,458 | 19,200 | 67.89 | 1400 | 6200 | 44 |
The data found that Arsenal supporters are particularly vulnerable to falling for ticket scams, partly due to high demand for tickets and high consumer fraud crime rates in their home city of London.
London football clubs dominate the list of the top 10 most targeted teams, reflecting the city’s status as a footballing hub with numerous high-profile clubs and a large population of fans. This concentration of clubs and fans in London creates a much bigger opportunity for scammers to take advantage of supporters.
Outside of London, Manchester City fans were most at risk of being scammed. This is due to the club’s high demand for tickets comparative to Manchester’s high consumer fraud rates and crime index rate overall. The clubs with the highest demand for tickets are (in order) Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham.
These findings underscore the importance of vigilance and caution for football fans when purchasing tickets, particularly for high-demand matches.
How can consumers avoid taking risks when buying tickets?
- Purchase from official sites and sources
Always buy tickets directly from the football club’s official website or their authorised partners. This ensures that your tickets are genuine and you won’t be overcharged. The Premier League and other football associations often provide guides on how to purchase tickets safely.
- Avoid buying tickets directly from social platforms
Scammers often use social media to attract unsuspecting fans. They might post fake photos of tickets or create fake resale sites. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always verify the authenticity of the seller before making any purchase.
- Use Secure Payment Methods
When buying tickets online, use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal. These methods offer better protection and make it easier to get your money back if something goes wrong. Avoid bank transfers so potential scammers do not gain access to your personal information.
- Check seller’s reviews and ratings
Before purchasing from any seller, check their reviews and ratings. Look for feedback on independent platforms to see if other customers have had positive experiences. Be sure to be savvy for fake reviews and look for trusted review platforms to get a genuine picture of past customer’s experiences. If there are many complaints or reports of scams, steer clear.
- Verify the seller's contact information
Legitimate sellers will provide clear contact information, including a physical business address and phone number, especially for websites. Test these details by calling or emailing before making a purchase. Be cautious of sellers who only communicate through private messages or emails.
- Be Cautious with Last-Minute Deals
Last minute ticket deals can be enticing but they are often more likely to be scams. If you’re buying tickets close to the event date, double check the seller’s legitimacy and ensure the tickets will be valid on match day.
- Protect Your Personal Information
When purchasing tickets online, ensure the website is secure. Look for “https” in the URL and a padlock symbol in the address bar. Avoid sharing personal or financial information on unsecured websites.
Buying Secondary Market Tickets with Ticket Compare
Ticket Compare puts in all the legwork, checking availability on resale tickets from only the best-performing marketplaces. You can seek out the price and location that are right for you, and make your purchase with total peace of mind.
There’s always high availability for Premier League tickets, for leagues across Europe, and for a wide range of other events, from concerts to Wimbledon to Formula 1.
