Football Fans Warned of Ticket Scams Ahead of New Season

Football supporters are being warned to stay vigilant against ticket scams as fraudsters gear up to exploit demand for seats in the upcoming Premier League campaign.

New figures from Lloyds Bank suggest more than £2.5 million has been stolen from fans nationwide in recent years, with over 2,400 cases of football ticket fraud reported by the bank’s customers in the last two seasons alone. Losses for those customers totalled more than £500,000, with the average victim last season losing £218.

When scaled across the UK, Lloyds estimates at least 12,000 fans have fallen prey to scammers since the start of the 2023/24 season. Liverpool supporters were the most frequent targets, followed by fans of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City. Fraud cases also involved supporters of Celtic, Rangers and Wrexham AFC.

Supporters aged 25–34 accounted for 28% of reported cases, with those aged 18–24 close behind at 26%.

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The Government has joined Lloyds Bank in urging caution through its Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Around 76% of football ticket scams last season originated on social media, where criminals post fake adverts or listings for sold-out matches or offer tickets at discounted prices. Victims are typically asked to pay upfront—often via bank transfer—only to receive nothing in return.

Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: “It’s easy to get swept up in the buzz of a new season, but scammers are banking on that excitement. With demand for tickets often outstripping supply, fraudsters know they can trick fans into paying for tickets that simply don’t exist.”

Lloyds recommends supporters take these steps to avoid being caught out:

1. Resist the urge to rush into a purchase because of FOMO—pause to verify the offer.
2. Stick to official sources such as club websites, ticket offices or authorised partners.
3. Avoid bank transfers or virtual currencies—use only trusted payment platforms recommended by official sellers.

The warning comes as the Premier League prepares to enforce new rules from the 2026–27 season requiring 70% of match tickets to be issued digitally, in a bid to curb touting and fraud.

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