Lloyds Bank issues warning to football fans after jump in ticket scams - which club is targeted most

Football fans are being warned to watch out for ticket scams, after a jump in reported incidents last season. According to Lloyds Bank, the number of people being scammed when buying football tickets more than doubled last season compared with the season before - with victims losing £154 on average.

The bank’s data showed a 101% increase with many scams originating on social media. People aged 18 to 24 are particularly likely to fall victim. It also indicated that supporters of Liverpool and Manchester United fell victim most often last season, along with Arsenal and Chelsea fans.

According to the bank, when tickets for big events are limited or in high demand, fraudsters know they can cash in on desperate fans willing to pay much more. They create fake posts on social media or online marketplaces to advertise tickets that do not exist.

Often they will include pictures of real tickets to convince the buyer that they are genuine. The victim is often tricked into sending money via bank transfer.

Once the money has been transferred, the fraudster simply disappears, and the victim receives nothing. Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at the bank, encouraged fans to buy directly from football clubs or their official ticket partners.