Barclays has issued an urgent warning to its customers about the growing threat of ticket fraud, which is causing average losses of £215 per victim. The high street lender, with branches across the UK including Birmingham, highlights that ticket scams are increasingly impacting fans, particularly those aged 18-29, who face steep extra costs when buying resale tickets.
Research by Barclays reveals that young fans pay an average of £55 more for resale tickets—more than double the UK average of £25. Yet, victims of ticket scams often lose far more, with one in four UK adults who encounter scams reporting financial losses. Barclays’ proprietary data shows that 63% of ticket scams reported by the Gen Z age group last year originated on social media platforms. Furthermore, 64% of UK adults believe that advances in artificial intelligence are making these scams harder to detect.
The bank’s Scams Bulletin monitors fraud trends affecting both personal and business accounts, providing expert guidance from Barclays’ digital safety specialists. Among those defrauded in ticket scams, a third (33%) said scammers asked for payment via bank transfer, while 26% reported that communications were shifted to private messaging apps to avoid detection.
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Kirsty Adams, Barclays’ Fraud & Scams Expert, cautioned: “While fairer resale rules are beneficial for fans, they don’t guarantee every ticket offer is legitimate. The risk often comes when people miss out on official tickets and feel pressured to act quickly. Scammers exploit this urgency, social media channels, and create convincing fake evidence like screenshots to deceive buyers.”
Adams added, “Our advice to fans is clear: if a ticket is sold outside official outlets, proceed with extreme caution. Don’t let the pressure to secure a spot push you into making payments before verifying who you are dealing with.”
This warning arrives at a critical time as the FIFA World Cup approaches in less than a month, underscoring the need for vigilance among football supporters.