Why it matters: The financial impact on local victims highlights a growing national problem, with UK-wide losses to ticket fraud increasing nearly 50% to £9.7 million in 2024.
The details: Suffolk Constabulary advises that using a credit card when purchasing tickets online can increase the chances of recovering money if affected by fraud.
By the numbers:
68 Suffolk residents fell victim to ticket fraud
£36,753 lost by Suffolk victims – an average of £540 per victim
£9.7 million lost to ticket fraud across the UK in 2024
Nearly 50% increase in losses compared to 2023
How to protect yourself:
Only buy tickets from venue box offices, official promoters, agents, or well-known ticketing websites
Avoid paying by bank transfer, especially if buying from unknown sellers
Use credit cards or payment services like PayPal for better fraud protection
Create strong, unique passwords for email and ticket-purchasing accounts
Enable two-step verification (2SV) for additional security
Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unusually good deals
Check if vendors are members of STAR (Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers)
The bottom line: If you believe you've been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online.
